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

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study is targeted to explore the relationship between exposure to various air pollutants (PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 , O 3 , and NO 2 ) 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 PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and NO 2 , but not for O 3 ( P > 0.05). Physically active participants did not show significant increases in hypertension risk from pollutants. In contrast, inactive participants faced higher risks: PM 1 (12.9%), PM 2.5 (6.0%), PM 10 (5.0%), NO 2 (17.0%). Finally, in the multiple pollutant models, controlling for NO 2 nullified the significance of PM 1 and PM 2.5 , while adjusting for O 3 increased their HRs. PM 10 and O 3 remained significant in all models, and adjusting for PM10 or both PM 10 and O 3 eliminated the significance of NO 2 . 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.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09341-z