Ambient PM_2.5 Chemical Composition and Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalizations in China

Little is known about the impacts of specific chemical components on cardiovascular hospitalizations. We examined the relationships of PM_2.5 chemical composition and daily hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease in 184 Chinese cities. Acute PM_2.5 chemical composition exposures were linked to higher cardiovascular disease hospitalizations on the same day and the percentage change of cardiovascular admission was the highest at 1.76% (95% CI, 1.36-2.16%) per interquartile range increase in BC, followed by 1.07% (0.72-1.43%) for SO₄^2-, 1.04% (0.63-1.46%) for NH₄⁺, 0.99% (0.55-1.43%) for NO₃^-, 0.83% (0.50-1.17%) for OM, and 0.80% (0.34%-1.26%) for Cl^-. Similar findings were observed for all cause-specific major cardiovascular diseases, except for heart rhythm disturbances. Short-term exposures to PM_2.5 chemical composition were related to higher admissions and showed diverse impacts on major cardiovascular diseases.