Ambient Air Pollution: A Major Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factor in the UAE?

Abstract

With an increase in ambient air levels and change in anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases have a variety of adverse effects on health, including cardiac health. Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with an estimated 17.9 million (31%) of people die every year1. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), CVD is also a significant cause of mortality accounted for 37.1% in 20162. In particular, ischemic heart diseases (25%) and stroke (24%) accounts for around 50% of all premature deaths directly or indirectly from air pollution3. With rapid urbanization in UAE, results in higher air pollution from fossil fuel-powered electricity and increases the risk of heart diseases. It is also estimated that population-weight average of PM2.5 (vehicular emissions) in UAE was more than three times greater (63.9 μg/m3) than global population-weight mean of 20 μg/m3 4.