Habitual exercise, chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and high-sensitivity C reactive protein in Asian adults

Yi Qian Zeng; Shin Heng Teresa Chan; Cui Guo; Ly-yun Chang; Yacong Bo; Changqing Lin; Zengli Yu; Alexis K.H. Lau; Tony Tam; Xiang Qian Lao

doi:10.1136/oemed-2022-108328

Habitual exercise, chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and high-sensitivity C reactive protein in Asian adults

Yi Qian Zeng
, Shin Heng Teresa Chan
, Cui Guo
, Ly-yun Chang
, Yacong Bo
, Changqing Lin
, Zengli Yu
, Alexis K.H. Lau
, Tony Tam
, Xiang Qian Lao^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives Exercise may increase the inhaled amount of air pollutants and exacerbate the adverse health effects. We investigated the combined effects of chronic exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and habitual exercise on C reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation.

Methods We selected 40 209 Taiwanese adults who joined a standard medical screening programme between 2001 and 2016. The PM_2.5 exposure was estimated at each participant's address using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Information on habitual exercise was collected using a standard self-administered questionnaire. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of CRP with PM_2.5 and exercise. An interaction term of PM 2.5 and exercise was introduced in the models to test the modifying effects.

Results A greater amount of habitual exercise was associated with a decreased level of CRP, while a higher concentration of PM_2.5 exposure was associated with an increased level of CRP. The inverse associations of habitual exercise with CRP were not modified by chronic exposure to PM_2.5. The participants in the group with a low level of exercise and a high level of PM_2.5 exposure exhibited a 19.1% higher level of CRP than those in the group with a high level of exercise and a low level of PM_2.5 exposure (95% CI: 13.7% to 24.8%; p<0.001). The longitudinal and sensitivity analyses yielded similar results.

Conclusions Increased levels of exercise and reduced exposure levels of PM_2.5 are associated with a lower CRP level. Habitual exercise reduces CRP level regardless of the levels of chronic PM_2.5 exposure. Our results support that habitual exercise is a safe approach for reducing systemic inflammation to improve cardiovascular health even for people residing in relatively polluted areas.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	557-565
Number of pages	9
Journal	Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume	79
Issue number	8
Online published	23 Jun 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108328
Publication status	Published - Aug 2022
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors

Funding

This work was supported by the RGC-General Research Fund of University Grant Committee of Hong Kong (14603019) and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2019A1515011697). YQZ is supported by the PhD Studentship of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. CG is supported by the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme of the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong. YB is in part supported by the Faculty Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

exercise
longitudinal studies
particulate matter

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1136/oemed-2022-108328

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Cite this

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title = "Habitual exercise, chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and high-sensitivity C reactive protein in Asian adults",

abstract = "Objectives Exercise may increase the inhaled amount of air pollutants and exacerbate the adverse health effects. We investigated the combined effects of chronic exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and habitual exercise on C reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation. Methods We selected 40 209 Taiwanese adults who joined a standard medical screening programme between 2001 and 2016. The PM2.5 exposure was estimated at each participant's address using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Information on habitual exercise was collected using a standard self-administered questionnaire. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of CRP with PM2.5 and exercise. An interaction term of PM 2.5 and exercise was introduced in the models to test the modifying effects. Results A greater amount of habitual exercise was associated with a decreased level of CRP, while a higher concentration of PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased level of CRP. The inverse associations of habitual exercise with CRP were not modified by chronic exposure to PM2.5. The participants in the group with a low level of exercise and a high level of PM2.5 exposure exhibited a 19.1\% higher level of CRP than those in the group with a high level of exercise and a low level of PM2.5 exposure (95\% CI: 13.7\% to 24.8\%; p<0.001). The longitudinal and sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Conclusions Increased levels of exercise and reduced exposure levels of PM2.5 are associated with a lower CRP level. Habitual exercise reduces CRP level regardless of the levels of chronic PM2.5 exposure. Our results support that habitual exercise is a safe approach for reducing systemic inflammation to improve cardiovascular health even for people residing in relatively polluted areas. {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

keywords = "exercise, longitudinal studies, particulate matter",

author = "Zeng, \{Yi Qian\} and Chan, \{Shin Heng Teresa\} and Cui Guo and Ly-yun Chang and Yacong Bo and Changqing Lin and Zengli Yu and Lau, \{Alexis K.H.\} and Tony Tam and Lao, \{Xiang Qian\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

year = "2022",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1136/oemed-2022-108328",

language = "English",

volume = "79",

pages = "557--565",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Habitual exercise, chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and high-sensitivity C reactive protein in Asian adults

AU - Zeng, Yi Qian

AU - Chan, Shin Heng Teresa

AU - Guo, Cui

AU - Chang, Ly-yun

AU - Bo, Yacong

AU - Lin, Changqing

AU - Yu, Zengli

AU - Lau, Alexis K.H.

AU - Tam, Tony

AU - Lao, Xiang Qian

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - Objectives Exercise may increase the inhaled amount of air pollutants and exacerbate the adverse health effects. We investigated the combined effects of chronic exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and habitual exercise on C reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation. Methods We selected 40 209 Taiwanese adults who joined a standard medical screening programme between 2001 and 2016. The PM2.5 exposure was estimated at each participant's address using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Information on habitual exercise was collected using a standard self-administered questionnaire. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of CRP with PM2.5 and exercise. An interaction term of PM 2.5 and exercise was introduced in the models to test the modifying effects. Results A greater amount of habitual exercise was associated with a decreased level of CRP, while a higher concentration of PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased level of CRP. The inverse associations of habitual exercise with CRP were not modified by chronic exposure to PM2.5. The participants in the group with a low level of exercise and a high level of PM2.5 exposure exhibited a 19.1% higher level of CRP than those in the group with a high level of exercise and a low level of PM2.5 exposure (95% CI: 13.7% to 24.8%; p<0.001). The longitudinal and sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Conclusions Increased levels of exercise and reduced exposure levels of PM2.5 are associated with a lower CRP level. Habitual exercise reduces CRP level regardless of the levels of chronic PM2.5 exposure. Our results support that habitual exercise is a safe approach for reducing systemic inflammation to improve cardiovascular health even for people residing in relatively polluted areas. © 2022 The Authors

AB - Objectives Exercise may increase the inhaled amount of air pollutants and exacerbate the adverse health effects. We investigated the combined effects of chronic exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and habitual exercise on C reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation. Methods We selected 40 209 Taiwanese adults who joined a standard medical screening programme between 2001 and 2016. The PM2.5 exposure was estimated at each participant's address using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Information on habitual exercise was collected using a standard self-administered questionnaire. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of CRP with PM2.5 and exercise. An interaction term of PM 2.5 and exercise was introduced in the models to test the modifying effects. Results A greater amount of habitual exercise was associated with a decreased level of CRP, while a higher concentration of PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased level of CRP. The inverse associations of habitual exercise with CRP were not modified by chronic exposure to PM2.5. The participants in the group with a low level of exercise and a high level of PM2.5 exposure exhibited a 19.1% higher level of CRP than those in the group with a high level of exercise and a low level of PM2.5 exposure (95% CI: 13.7% to 24.8%; p<0.001). The longitudinal and sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Conclusions Increased levels of exercise and reduced exposure levels of PM2.5 are associated with a lower CRP level. Habitual exercise reduces CRP level regardless of the levels of chronic PM2.5 exposure. Our results support that habitual exercise is a safe approach for reducing systemic inflammation to improve cardiovascular health even for people residing in relatively polluted areas. © 2022 The Authors

KW - exercise

KW - longitudinal studies

KW - particulate matter

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85134431327

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85134431327#tab=impact

U2 - 10.1136/oemed-2022-108328

DO - 10.1136/oemed-2022-108328

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 35738890

AN - SCOPUS:85134431327

SN - 1351-0711

VL - 79

SP - 557

EP - 565

JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine

JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine

IS - 8

ER -

Habitual exercise, chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and high-sensitivity C reactive protein in Asian adults

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

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