Abstract Background The long-term health effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on hypertension remain incomprehensive. We evaluated the
Abstract Background The long-term health effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on hypertension remain incomprehensive. We evaluated the relationship of PM2.5 and its components with hypertension incidence in middle-aged and elderly adults. Methods We utilised data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study collected between 2011 and 2018. We obtained annual modelled data from the dataset of Tracking Air Pollution in China, including black carbon (BC), sulphate (SO4 2−), organic matter (OM), ammonium (NH4 +), and nitrate (NO3 −). Time-varying Cox models and quantile g-computation models were employed to explore the associations. Exposure-response curves were portrayed to investigate potential non-linear effects. Results We enrolled 7,032 individuals with a mean age of 57.14 (range: 45–95) years. Over 36,997 person-years of follow-up (average time: 5.26 years), 3,119 individuals suffered from hypertension. With per interquartile range increment, the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PM2.5 (3.82 [95% CI: 3.48–4.18]), BC (4.17 [95% CI: 3.54–4.92]), SO4 2− (4.24 [95% CI: 3.50–5.12]), OM (3.76 [95% CI: 3.14–4.50]), NH4 + (3.20 [95% CI: 2.91–3.52]), and NO3 − (1.94 [95% CI: 1.77–2.13]) were discovered with lag 1 year. And the mixed effect was 18.0% [95% CI: 16.8%–19.2%], which was mainly driven by BC (66.0%) and SO4 2− (34.0%). Approximate J-shaped exposure-response relationships were revealed. Conclusions The positive associations of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its components with hypertension incidence were discovered in adults aged ≥ 45 years. Controlling the emissions of PM2.5 components, especially BC and SO4 2−, could alleviate the burden of hypertension.
