Modern therapies have extended the lives of many cancer patients; however, survivors often live with chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. New research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that air pollution plays a significant role in increasing cardiovascular disease and mortality in cancer patients and contributes to health disparities related to these conditions. "The review underscores the critical need to consider environmental factors , especially air pollution , in cardio-oncology risk assessment and patient management," said Xiaoquan Rao, MD, Ph.
D., senior author of the study and a cardiologist at Tongji Hospital at the Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, China. "By highlighting the significant role of air pollution in the cardiovascular health of cancer patients, our work aims to catalyze further research in this field and inform clinical practices and public health policies ," Rao said.
Rao noted that air pollution has been recognized as a significant risk factor for both cardiovascular diseases and cancer; however, little research has been done to study its effects, specifically in cardio-oncology or the overlap of both diseases. The new study was motivated by a need to fill that gap, Rao said. Researchers reviewed papers published between 2000 and 2023 and found eight studies that directly explored the combined effect of air pollution on cardiovascular disease and cancer.
They found that exposure to PM 2.5 , or .
