Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations

Andrea Dalecká; Ayoung Jeong; Daniel Szabó; Balint Tamasi; Medea Imboden; Emmanuel Schaffner; Dirk Keidel; Youchen Shen; Mark Nieuwenhuijsen; Marta Cirach; Kees de Hoogh; Jelle Vlaanderen; Roel Vermeulen; Annette Peters; Erik Melén; Anne Peasey; Martin Bobák; Hynek Pikhart; Nicole Probst-Hensch

doi:10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393

Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations

Andrea Dalecká
, Ayoung Jeong
, Daniel Szabó
, Balint Tamasi
, Medea Imboden
, Emmanuel Schaffner
, Dirk Keidel
, Youchen Shen
, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
, Marta Cirach
, Kees de Hoogh
, Jelle Vlaanderen
, Roel Vermeulen
, Annette Peters
, Erik Melén
, Anne Peasey
, Martin Bobák
, Hynek Pikhart
, Nicole Probst-Hensch^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Masaryk University
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
ISGlobal Institute de Salut Global Barcelona
University of Basel
Institute of Epidemiology II
Karolinska Institutet
University College London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased rapidly, with considerable variation between European countries. The study examined the relationship between air pollutants, greenspace, and MetS and its components in the Czech and Swiss populations.

METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Czech Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) (n = 4,931) and the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) (n = 4,422) cohorts included participants aged 44-73 years. MetS was defined as abdominal obesity plus two additional components (hypertension, diabetes, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides). Annual mean concentrations of PM 10, PM 2.5, NO 2, and greenspace (defined as the annual mean of normalized difference vegetation index within 500 m) were assigned to the individual residential level. We estimated odds ratios (OR) using multivariable logistic regressions with cluster-robust standard error, controlling for multiple confounders.

RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in the Czech (51.1%) compared with Swiss (35.8%) population as were the concentration means of PM 10 and PM 2.5. In HAPIEE, a 5 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with 14% higher odds of MetS (OR = 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.28). In SAPALDIA, no evidence was found for the associations between air pollutants and MetS (e.g. OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.13 for PM 2.5). No protective effects of normalized difference vegetation index on MetS were observed. Upon inspection of MetS components, PM 2.5 and PM 10 exposures were associated with higher odds of hypertension and elevated triglycerides in HAPIEE only, while PM 2.5, PM 10, and NO 2 were associated with higher odds of diabetes in SAPALDIA only.

CONCLUSION: Individuals with higher exposures to PM 2.5 may be at higher risk of MetS. The differential associations with MetS components between the cohorts deserve further investigation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	e393
Journal	Environmental Epidemiology
Volume	9
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Air pollution
Cross-sectional design
Greenspace
Metabolic syndrome
Particulate matter

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air_pollution,_greenspace,_and_metabolic_syndrome.11Final published version, 788 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Dalecká, A., Jeong, A., Szabó, D., Tamasi, B., Imboden, M., Schaffner, E., Keidel, D., Shen, Y., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Cirach, M., de Hoogh, K., Vlaanderen, J., Vermeulen, R., Peters, A., Melén, E., Peasey, A., Bobák, M., Pikhart, H., & Probst-Hensch, N. (2025). Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations. Environmental Epidemiology, 9(3), e393. https://doi.org/10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393

@article{0542fc508a8b44afac63c44bace40099,

title = "Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased rapidly, with considerable variation between European countries. The study examined the relationship between air pollutants, greenspace, and MetS and its components in the Czech and Swiss populations.METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Czech Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) (n = 4,931) and the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) (n = 4,422) cohorts included participants aged 44-73 years. MetS was defined as abdominal obesity plus two additional components (hypertension, diabetes, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides). Annual mean concentrations of PM 10, PM 2.5, NO 2, and greenspace (defined as the annual mean of normalized difference vegetation index within 500 m) were assigned to the individual residential level. We estimated odds ratios (OR) using multivariable logistic regressions with cluster-robust standard error, controlling for multiple confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in the Czech (51.1\%) compared with Swiss (35.8\%) population as were the concentration means of PM 10 and PM 2.5. In HAPIEE, a 5 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with 14\% higher odds of MetS (OR = 1.14; 95\% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.28). In SAPALDIA, no evidence was found for the associations between air pollutants and MetS (e.g. OR = 1.01; 95\% CI = 0.90, 1.13 for PM 2.5). No protective effects of normalized difference vegetation index on MetS were observed. Upon inspection of MetS components, PM 2.5 and PM 10 exposures were associated with higher odds of hypertension and elevated triglycerides in HAPIEE only, while PM 2.5, PM 10, and NO 2 were associated with higher odds of diabetes in SAPALDIA only. CONCLUSION: Individuals with higher exposures to PM 2.5 may be at higher risk of MetS. The differential associations with MetS components between the cohorts deserve further investigation. ",

keywords = "Air pollution, Cross-sectional design, Greenspace, Metabolic syndrome, Particulate matter",

author = "Andrea Daleck{\'a} and Ayoung Jeong and Daniel Szab{\'o} and Balint Tamasi and Medea Imboden and Emmanuel Schaffner and Dirk Keidel and Youchen Shen and Mark Nieuwenhuijsen and Marta Cirach and \{de Hoogh\}, Kees and Jelle Vlaanderen and Roel Vermeulen and Annette Peters and Erik Mel{\'e}n and Anne Peasey and Martin Bob{\'a}k and Hynek Pikhart and Nicole Probst-Hensch",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

pages = "e393",

journal = "Environmental Epidemiology",

issn = "2474-7882",

publisher = "Wolters Kluwer Health",

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}

Dalecká, A, Jeong, A, Szabó, D, Tamasi, B, Imboden, M, Schaffner, E, Keidel, D, Shen, Y, Nieuwenhuijsen, M, Cirach, M, de Hoogh, K , Vlaanderen, J , Vermeulen, R, Peters, A, Melén, E, Peasey, A, Bobák, M, Pikhart, H & Probst-Hensch, N 2025, 'Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations', Environmental Epidemiology, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. e393. https://doi.org/10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393

TY - JOUR

T1 - Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations

AU - Dalecká, Andrea

AU - Jeong, Ayoung

AU - Szabó, Daniel

AU - Tamasi, Balint

AU - Imboden, Medea

AU - Schaffner, Emmanuel

AU - Keidel, Dirk

AU - Shen, Youchen

AU - Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark

AU - Cirach, Marta

AU - de Hoogh, Kees

AU - Vlaanderen, Jelle

AU - Vermeulen, Roel

AU - Peters, Annette

AU - Melén, Erik

AU - Peasey, Anne

AU - Bobák, Martin

AU - Pikhart, Hynek

AU - Probst-Hensch, Nicole

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased rapidly, with considerable variation between European countries. The study examined the relationship between air pollutants, greenspace, and MetS and its components in the Czech and Swiss populations.METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Czech Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) (n = 4,931) and the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) (n = 4,422) cohorts included participants aged 44-73 years. MetS was defined as abdominal obesity plus two additional components (hypertension, diabetes, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides). Annual mean concentrations of PM 10, PM 2.5, NO 2, and greenspace (defined as the annual mean of normalized difference vegetation index within 500 m) were assigned to the individual residential level. We estimated odds ratios (OR) using multivariable logistic regressions with cluster-robust standard error, controlling for multiple confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in the Czech (51.1%) compared with Swiss (35.8%) population as were the concentration means of PM 10 and PM 2.5. In HAPIEE, a 5 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with 14% higher odds of MetS (OR = 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.28). In SAPALDIA, no evidence was found for the associations between air pollutants and MetS (e.g. OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.13 for PM 2.5). No protective effects of normalized difference vegetation index on MetS were observed. Upon inspection of MetS components, PM 2.5 and PM 10 exposures were associated with higher odds of hypertension and elevated triglycerides in HAPIEE only, while PM 2.5, PM 10, and NO 2 were associated with higher odds of diabetes in SAPALDIA only. CONCLUSION: Individuals with higher exposures to PM 2.5 may be at higher risk of MetS. The differential associations with MetS components between the cohorts deserve further investigation.

AB - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased rapidly, with considerable variation between European countries. The study examined the relationship between air pollutants, greenspace, and MetS and its components in the Czech and Swiss populations.METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Czech Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) (n = 4,931) and the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) (n = 4,422) cohorts included participants aged 44-73 years. MetS was defined as abdominal obesity plus two additional components (hypertension, diabetes, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides). Annual mean concentrations of PM 10, PM 2.5, NO 2, and greenspace (defined as the annual mean of normalized difference vegetation index within 500 m) were assigned to the individual residential level. We estimated odds ratios (OR) using multivariable logistic regressions with cluster-robust standard error, controlling for multiple confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in the Czech (51.1%) compared with Swiss (35.8%) population as were the concentration means of PM 10 and PM 2.5. In HAPIEE, a 5 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with 14% higher odds of MetS (OR = 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.28). In SAPALDIA, no evidence was found for the associations between air pollutants and MetS (e.g. OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.13 for PM 2.5). No protective effects of normalized difference vegetation index on MetS were observed. Upon inspection of MetS components, PM 2.5 and PM 10 exposures were associated with higher odds of hypertension and elevated triglycerides in HAPIEE only, while PM 2.5, PM 10, and NO 2 were associated with higher odds of diabetes in SAPALDIA only. CONCLUSION: Individuals with higher exposures to PM 2.5 may be at higher risk of MetS. The differential associations with MetS components between the cohorts deserve further investigation.

KW - Air pollution

KW - Cross-sectional design

KW - Greenspace

KW - Metabolic syndrome

KW - Particulate matter

U2 - 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393

DO - 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000393

M3 - Article

C2 - 40351522

SN - 2474-7882

VL - 9

SP - e393

JO - Environmental Epidemiology

JF - Environmental Epidemiology

IS - 3

ER -

Air pollution, greenspace, and metabolic syndrome in older Czech and Swiss populations

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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