Air Pollution Raises Heart Disease Risk in Older Diabetics, Study Finds
According to a study published in 2025 in Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases among elderly and middle-aged people living with diabetes.
Researchers from a hospital affiliated with Northwest University in Shaanxi province used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). CHARLS is a nationally representative survey that tracks the social, economic, and health conditions of adults aged 45 and above, along with their spouses, over time.
New cases of cardiovascular disease were identified based on self-reported information from participants, while diabetes was diagnosed using the American Diabetes Association’s criteria. Cardiovascular diseases included myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, stroke, and other heart-related conditions.
The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was found to be 13.8% among participants with a history of diabetes, compared to 8.5% among those without diabetes. For every interquartile range increase in pollutant concentration, the risk of cardiovascular disease rose by 19% to 28%, with PM10 showing the strongest association. Other pollutants examined in the study included PM1, PM2.5, and ozone.
Air pollution increases global cardiovascular risk
Air pollution is a major global health threat affecting people worldwide. Estimates suggest that around 99% of the world’s population is exposed to air that exceeds safe pollution limits. Such exposure significantly raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) leads to millions of deaths every year, a large proportion of which are due to cardiovascular diseases. People living with diabetes face an even higher risk of complications.
This comes amid concerns raised by the Congress party, which cited a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) stating that nearly 44% of cities in the country consistently experience high levels of air pollution. The party described the situation as a “structural crisis” and called it “India’s worst hidden secret,” pointing to the lack of parliamentary debate despite repeated demands by the opposition.
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