The association between anthropogenic heat and adult hypertension in Northeast China

Objectives: Although the potential serious threat of anthropogenic heat on human health was receiving considerable attention worldwide, its long-term health effect on blood pressure (BP) remained unknown. We aimed to evaluate the associations of long-term anthropogenic heat exposure with different components of BP and hypertension. Methods: In this cross-sectional study (Liaoning province, China) conducted in 2009, we included a total of 24,845 Chinese adults (18-74 years). We estimated the anthropogenic heat exposure in 2008 using multisource remote sensing images and ancillary data. We measured systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (IMP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP), and defined hypertension. We used generalized linear mixed model to examine the associations. Results: In the adjusted model, the estimates indicated that the difference in SBP, MAP and PP for those in highest quartiles of total anthropogenic heat exposure was greater compared with the lowest quartile (highest quartile: beta = 1.11 [95% CI: 0.28-1.94], 0.60 [95% CI: 0.04-1.17], 0.76 [95% CI: 0.17-1.35]). Compared with the lowest quartile, the odds of hypertension were higher among those in higher quartiles (second quartile: OR = 1.17 [95% CI: 1.05-1.30]; third quartile:1.10 [95% CI: 1.1.01-1.21]; highest quartile: 1.17 [95 % CI: 1.06-1.28]). These associations were stronger in female participants. Conclusion: Our study showed that long-term exposure to anthropogenic heat was associated with elevated BP and higher odds of hypertension. These findings suggest that mitigation strategies to reduce anthropogcnic heat should be considered.