GEOHealth India Hub
A fully integrated research and training program aiming at air pollution and cardiometabolic diseases with policy relevance to improve health of Indians.
Mission
The GEOHealth study aims to accelerate scientific infrastructure development, enhance capacity, and support research needed to fully characterize the relationship between air pollution and cardio-metabolic (CM) risk factors and diseases in India. The project further aims to build a critical core of environmental health researchers in India that will help develop the evidence base for health-centric policy-making across sectors moving forward.
Hypertension and Ambient PM 2.5 Pollution in Delhi
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We found strong effects of long- and short-term exposure on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) as well as risk of developing hypertension.
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We observed higher average systolic BP (1.8 mm Hg and 3.3 mm Hg per interquartile range differences (~9-15 µg/m3 of PM2.5) in monthly and annual exposures, respectively.
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Positive but less pronounced associations were observed for diastolic blood pressure.
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Average PM2.5 over durations of 1 year, 1.5 years, and 2 years increased the risk of developing hypertension by 1.5× (50% higher risk) 1.6× (60% higher risk), and 1.2× (20% higher risk), respectively.
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These results were also found to be stronger in study participants with higher waist-to-hip ratios, which is an indicator of central obesity.
Hub Partners
