| Title: | Long-Term PM2.5 Constituents Exposure, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Sleep Apnea: A Prospective Cohort Study |
| Journal: | Chest |
| Published: | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41833808/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2026.02.025 |
Publication 17394
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sleep apnea (SA), a widespread disorder linked to heart disease, affects over 1 billion people globally. While PM2.5 is suspected to worsen this condition, the specific role of individual PM2.5 constituents-how genetics might amplify their harm-remains unclear.</p>
RESEARCH QUESTION: Do long-term exposures to PM2.5 constituents (EC, OM, SO42-, NO3-, NH4+) associate with incident SA, and does genetic susceptibility modify these associations?</p>
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study of 495,073 UK Biobank participants, PM2.5 constituents were modeled via the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme model for the UK, driven by Weather and Research Forecast model meteorology. Time-dependent Cox regression and quantile-based g-computation models (QGC) were employed for analysis. A genome-wide significant SNP (rs9937053) for SA identified in the UK Biobank database was selected to analyze its interaction with PM2.5 constituents.</p>
RESULTS: In the analysis of 495,073 participants with a median of 11.82-year follow-up, 7,086 incident SA cases were identified. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of SA for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5, EC, OM, NH4+, NO3-, and SO42- were 1.16 (1.15 to 1.18), 1.11 (1.09 to 1.12), 1.08 (1.07 to 1.09), 1.21 (1.19 to 1.23), 1.18 (1.17 to 1.19), and 1.11 (1.09 to 1.12). QGC modeling identified SO42- as the predominant contributor to PM2.5-associated SA risk (58% proportion explained). Stratified analyses identified heightened susceptibility among urban residents (pinteraction <0.05 for PM2.5, NO3-) and obese individuals (BMI ≥30; pinteraction <0.05 for PM2.5, EC, OM, NH4+, SO42-). Moreover, the rs9937053 SNP significantly interacts with PM2.5 constituents on SA risk.</p>
INTERPRETATION: PM2.5 constituents-particularly SO42--elevate SA risk, with urban populations, obese individuals, and rs9937053 carriers at greatest vulnerability. These findings demonstrate SA risk from PM2.5 at concentrations exceeding the WHO guideline. They advocate for an urgent emission control of sulfate (gas and oil combustion) as a priority.</p>
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: N/A (Observational study).</p>
10 Authors
- Ge Yin
- Feipeng Cui
- Ning Chen
- Meiqi Xing
- Lei Zheng
- Linxi Tang
- Lanlai Yuan
- Yaohua Tian
- Yun Zhu
- Yu Sun
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 69741 | Environmental exposures, medicine use, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders |
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