{"id":3150,"date":"2021-01-28T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world-heart-federation.org\/news\/leading-cardiovascular-organizations-call-for-urgent-action-to-reduce-air-pollution\/"},"modified":"2023-04-17T14:15:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T12:15:32","slug":"leading-cardiovascular-organizations-call-for-urgent-action-to-reduce-air-pollution","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/world-heart-federation.org\/news\/leading-cardiovascular-organizations-call-for-urgent-action-to-reduce-air-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading cardiovascular organizations call for urgent action to reduce air pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Geneva <\/em>(28 January 2021) <\/em>\u2013 Air pollution is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease<\/a>, and a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Long-term exposure to air pollution has also been linked to an increased risk of death from COVID-19. This dangerous \u201ctriple threat\u201d of air pollution, COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease should be taken seriously, warn major health authorities.<\/p>\n

Four leading cardiovascular organizations \u2013 the World Heart Federation (WHF), American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) \u2013 today released a joint statement<\/a> urging the medical community and health authorities to mitigate the impact of air pollution on people\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

In 2019, an estimated 6.7 million deaths, or 12 percent of all deaths worldwide, were attributable to outdoor or household air pollution. As many as half of these were due to cardiovascular disease. Air pollution also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and respiratory diseases, which are known to raise a person\u2019s risk of experiencing some of the more severe consequences of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven before the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollution was an issue of growing concern due to its impact on people\u2019s health, although it was frequently overlooked as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. COVID-19 has brought a new, deadly factor to the equation, and the time has come for the health community to speak up and take action,\u201d<\/em> said Michael Brauer, Chair of the World Heart Federation Air Pollution Expert Group and co-author of the statement.<\/p>\n

The statement calls for structural actions to reduce emissions of air pollutants and harmful exposure. It also highlights the important role that healthcare providers play in preventing illnesses related to air pollution, including:<\/p>\n