Long‐Term Exposure to Ambient PM2.5 and Hospitalizations for Myocardial Infarction Among US Residents: A Difference‐in‐Differences Analysis

Background Air pollution has been recognized as an untraditional risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI). However, the MI risk attributable to long‐term exposure to fine particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) is unclear, especially in younger populations, and few studies have represented the general population or had power to examine comorbidities. Methods and Results We applied the difference‐in‐differences approach to estimate the relationship between annual PM2.5 exposure and hospitalizations for MI among US residents and further identified potential susceptible subpopulations. All hospital admissions for MI in 10 US states over the period 2002 to 2016 were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database. In total, 1 914 684 MI hospital admissions from 8106 zip codes were included in this study. We observed a 1.35% (95% CI, 1.11–1.59) increase in MI hospitalization rate for 1‐μg/m3 increase in annual PM2.5 exposure. The estimate was robust to adjustment for surface pressure, relative humidity, and copollutants. In the population exposed to ≤12 μg/m3, there was a larger increment of 2.17% (95% CI, 1.79–2.56) in hospitalization rate associated with 1‐μg/m3 increase in PM2.5. Young people (0–34 years of age) and elderly people (≥75 years of age) were the 2 most susceptible age groups. Residents living in more densely populated or poorer areas and individuals with comorbidities were observed to be at a greater risk. Conclusions This study indicates long‐term residential exposure to PM2.5 could increase risk of MI among the general US population, people with comorbidities, and poorer individuals. The association persists below current standards.