Impact of air pollution on coronary artery disease: A qualitative study

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a growing public health concern, especially in polluted urban areas like Delhi.Air pollution exacerbates CAD progression through systemic in ammation and oxidative stress, further aggravated by the environmental and psychological stress prevalent in such areas.Introduction: This study focuses on understanding the impact of air pollution on CAD management from the perspective of healthcare professionals in Delhi.While quantitative data exists linking pollution to cardiovascular diseases, qualitative insights from cardiologists and interventional cardiologists remain underexplored.This study addresses the gap by collecting their experiences in managing CAD in high-pollution areas.Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to gather data from healthcare professionals.Thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns in the responses, focusing on the perceived impact of air pollution on CAD progression, treatment challenges, and recovery. Results:The ndings reveal that air pollution accelerates CAD progression, with higher acute coronary events during periods of high pollution.Lifestyle changes alone are insu cient for advanced CAD, necessitating medical interventions.Patients exposed to pollution face slower recovery after procedures like angioplasty, with a signi cant lack of patient awareness regarding pollution's impact on cardiovascular health. Conclusions:Air pollution poses signi cant challenges to CAD management.Urgent action from policymakers and healthcare providers is needed to mitigate its e ects through stricter emission controls, public health education, and integrated patient care.Without such interventions, the burden of CAD in polluted environments will continue to rise.