Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have found that short-term increases in particulate matter and air pressure are associated with higher numbers of pulmonary embolism diagnoses, though these environmental factors do not appear to affect clinical severity. The findings were published in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
The study analysed 969 patients with confirmed acute pulmonary embolism at University Hospital Vienna, examining environmental exposures in the days prior to diagnosis. Data on PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, air pressure, and temperature were collected from Austria’s GeoSphere monitoring network and Vienna municipal stations.
Results indicate that more cases were diagnosed during periods of higher particulate matter and increased air pressure, especially in patients without classic risk factors such as surgery, immobilisation, or cancer. The association was stronger in outpatient diagnoses, while inpatient cases showed no clear link. Importantly, clinical severity at diagnosis was not influenced by environmental conditions.
First author Stephan Nopp from the Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology emphasized that, “short-term increases in particulate matter and air pressure may act as triggers for pulmonary embolism, particularly in patients without traditional risk factors.” Study leader Cihan Ay stressed that “these observational findings do not establish causation, but provide evidence for considering environmental factors in thromboembolic disease risk.”
The research team recommends further multicentre studies across diverse climates and investigation into biological mechanisms, such as inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and prothrombotic activation, to better understand these associations.
Source: Medical University of Vienna
About the Author
