Investigating the relationship between air quality index and daily variations in blood pressure among urban residents

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the association between air quality index (AQI) and daily blood pressure fluctuations in urban residents of Uzbekistan, and was conducted on 150 Tashkent residents (mean age 45 ± 12 years, 55% female) over a 6-month period (January to June 2023). Blood pressure data were measured with portable digital devices and daily AQI was extracted from urban monitoring stations. Results showed that the average daily AQI was 85 ± 22 (range: 45–156) and every 10-unit increase in AQI was associated with an increase of 1.7 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (95% CI: 1.2–2.3; p=0.001) and 1.1 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure (0.7–1.5; p=0.003). On days with an AQI above 100, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 5.4 (p<0.01) and 3.8 mmHg (p=0.02) higher, respectively, than on days with a favorable AQI (<50). Also, 32% of participants experienced an increase in blood pressure ≥10.5 mmHg on polluted days. The findings confirm the significant impact of air pollution on cardiovascular health and highlight the need for policies to reduce pollutants and monitor high-risk groups.