Exposure to PM2.5 and Ozone and Progression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis among Women Transitioning through Menopause

Introduction: The effects of chronic exposure to air pollution on progression of subclinical atherosclerosis are unclear. We assessed whether chronic exposure to PM2.5, ozone and the combined effect of these two pollutants would increase risk of progression of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque, two well-established markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, among women transitioning through menopause. Methods: We studied 389 women (249 White and 143 Black, mean(SD) age=51(2.8) years) from the Chicago and Pittsburgh sites of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Carotid ultrasound measures were obtained at two visits (median follow-up time of 2.2 years). The ambient air exposure level of PM2.5 and ozone was collected from monitors within 20 km from the participants’ residential address. The effect of cumulative exposure to air pollutants and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis measures were examined using linear mixed effect models (CIMT) and multinomial logistic regression (pla...