Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China

Abstract This study is targeted to explore the relationship between exposure to various air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, PM10, O3, and NO2) and hypertension risk, and to assess the role of physical activity in this relationship among Chinese adults. The association between multiple ambient air pollutants...

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Main Authors: Yuquan Chen, Yanwei You, Jiarong He, Yuechuan Zhang, Qi Zhang, Fan Yang, Mingming Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09341-z
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author Yuquan Chen
Yanwei You
Jiarong He
Yuechuan Zhang
Qi Zhang
Fan Yang
Mingming Zhang
author_facet Yuquan Chen
Yanwei You
Jiarong He
Yuechuan Zhang
Qi Zhang
Fan Yang
Mingming Zhang
author_sort Yuquan Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study is targeted to explore the relationship between exposure to various air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, PM10, O3, and NO2) and hypertension risk, and to assess the role of physical activity in this relationship among Chinese adults. The association between multiple ambient air pollutants (with separate models for each pollutant) and hypertension was explored using time-varying Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusted for season, spatial autocorrelation, demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. The median follow-up was 4 years. The interaction tests revealed significant interactions between physical activity and exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, but not for O3 (P > 0.05). Physically active participants did not show significant increases in hypertension risk from pollutants. In contrast, inactive participants faced higher risks: PM1 (12.9%), PM2.5 (6.0%), PM10 (5.0%), NO2 (17.0%). Finally, in the multiple pollutant models, controlling for NO2 nullified the significance of PM1 and PM2.5, while adjusting for O3 increased their HRs. PM10 and O3 remained significant in all models, and adjusting for PM10 or both PM10 and O3 eliminated the significance of NO2. Higher concentrations of air pollution were linked to a heightened risk of developing hypertension among Chinese adults; however, physical activity may help mitigate this elevated risk.
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issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-bab321b154154ec0aad2d9afc4f9eefd2025-08-20T03:04:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-09341-zPhysical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in ChinaYuquan Chen0Yanwei You1Jiarong He2Yuechuan Zhang3Qi Zhang4Fan Yang5Mingming Zhang6School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash UniversityDivision of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College HospitalTaishan UniversitySchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityAbstract This study is targeted to explore the relationship between exposure to various air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, PM10, O3, and NO2) and hypertension risk, and to assess the role of physical activity in this relationship among Chinese adults. The association between multiple ambient air pollutants (with separate models for each pollutant) and hypertension was explored using time-varying Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusted for season, spatial autocorrelation, demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. The median follow-up was 4 years. The interaction tests revealed significant interactions between physical activity and exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, but not for O3 (P > 0.05). Physically active participants did not show significant increases in hypertension risk from pollutants. In contrast, inactive participants faced higher risks: PM1 (12.9%), PM2.5 (6.0%), PM10 (5.0%), NO2 (17.0%). Finally, in the multiple pollutant models, controlling for NO2 nullified the significance of PM1 and PM2.5, while adjusting for O3 increased their HRs. PM10 and O3 remained significant in all models, and adjusting for PM10 or both PM10 and O3 eliminated the significance of NO2. Higher concentrations of air pollution were linked to a heightened risk of developing hypertension among Chinese adults; however, physical activity may help mitigate this elevated risk.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09341-zAir pollutantsHypertensionPhysical activityChina
spellingShingle Yuquan Chen
Yanwei You
Jiarong He
Yuechuan Zhang
Qi Zhang
Fan Yang
Mingming Zhang
Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China
Scientific Reports
Air pollutants
Hypertension
Physical activity
China
title Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China
title_full Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China
title_fullStr Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China
title_short Physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study in China
title_sort physical activity in the relationship between multiple air pollutants exposure and risk of hypertension a prospective cohort study in china
topic Air pollutants
Hypertension
Physical activity
China
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09341-z
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