Association Between Element Content and Autonomic Cardiac Activity in Healthy Young Urban Residents

### **Meteorological Factors and Population Health in the South of Russia**

**Elena Evstafeva1, Vladimir Lapchenko2, Olga Zalata1, Svetlana Tymchenko1, and Anna Bogdanova1** 1V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russian Federation 2T.I. Vyazemsky Karadag Scientific Station - Nature Reserve of RAS - Branch of A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Feodosiya, Russian Federation

Possible effects of meteorological factors on population health were assessed based on daily fluctuations of

meteorological parameters related to the incidences of life-threatening conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory emergencies in April, July, October 2017, and January 2018 in Simferopol. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the association between the meteorological factors and the number of ambulance call-outs for cardiovascular or respiratory emergencies and selected physiological parameters. Daily ground-level ozone concentrations (GOL) in the air along the coast of the Crimean peninsula, on average, significantly exceeded the maximum permissible values (30 µg/m³), and absolute daily values ranged from 8 to 135 µg/m³ in different seasons throughout 2017. Significant correlations were revealed between the number of ambulance call-outs due to bronchial asthma attacks, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, hypertensive crisis and GOL, temperature, and humidity of the atmospheric air; associations were also determined between arrhythmia and wind velocity (0.55 < r < 0.82, р < 0.05) with the maximal number of ambulance call-outs recorded in July when the highest temperature and GOL were observed.

Examination of the functional parameters in patients with cardiovascular diseases and healthy individuals showed significant correlations between the number of ventricular extrasystoles in the first group and wind velocity (0.56 < r < 0.64, р < 0.05). The stress index used to assess the cardiac regulation was associated with temperature (0.26 < r < 0.46, р < 0.01), atmospheric pressure (r = -0.35, p = 0.02), air humidity (r = -0.49, p = 0.0006), and GOL (r = -0.38, p = 0.02), suggesting decreased parasympathetic activity in healthy people. Correlations between meteorological factors such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, and GOL play the most significant role in the functional parameters and are associated with a higher rate of life-threatening conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory emergencies in the population in the south of Russia. The research was supported by the grant of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea to young scientists of the Republic of Crimea, the state assignment (theme No. 121032300023-7; Lapchenko V.A.).

*Figure 1. Annual dynamics of emergency ambulance calls.*

*Figure 2. Correlations between emergency ambulance calls and ground-level ozone concentration.*

*Figure 3. Correlations between temperature indicators and the number of emergency ambulance calls in different seasons of the year.*

#### Authors

Elena Evstafeva1, Vladimir Lapchenko2, Olga Zalata1, Svetlana Tymchenko1, and Anna Bogdanova1

<sup>1</sup> V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russian Federation

<sup>2</sup> T.I. Vyazemsky Karadag Scientific Station - Nature Reserve of RAS - Branch of A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Feodosiya, Russian Federation

#### Introduction

Numerous researchers have suggested that climate change affects public health, but its impact on the cardiorespiratory system remains unexplored. Possible effects of meteorological factors on population health were assessed based on daily fluctuations in meteorological parameters related to incidences of lifethreatening conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory emergencies in April, July and October 2017 and January 2018 in Simferopol, Crimea.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of meteorological factors on population health based on the daily fluctuation in meteorological parameters compared to the number of ambulance call-outs for cardiovascular incidents.

#### Methodology

Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the association between the meteorological factors and the number of ambulance call-outs for cardiovascular or respiratory emergencies and selected physiological parameters.

#### Results and Discussion

Daily ground level ozone concentrations in the air along the coast of the Crimean peninsula on average significantly exceeded the maximum permissible values (30 µg/m3), and absolute daily values ranged from 8 to 135 µg/m3 in different seasons throughout 2017.

Significant correlations were revealed between the number of ambulance callouts due to bronchial asthma attacks, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, hypertensive crisis and daily ground level ozone concentrations, temperature, and the humidity of the atmospheric air (Figure 1).

Associations were also determined between arrhythmia and wind velocity (0.55<r<0.82, p<0.05), with the maximum number of ambulance call-outs recorded in July, when the highest temperature and daily ground level ozone concentrations were observed (Figures 2, 3).

An examination of the functional parameters in patients with cardiovascular diseases and in healthy individuals showed significant correlations between the number of ventricular extra-systoles and wind velocity (0.56<r<0.64, p<0.05).

The stress index used to asses cardiac regulation was associated with temperature, (0.26<r<0.46, p<0.01), atmospheric pressure (r=-0.35, p=0.02), air humidity (r=-0.49, p=0.0006) and daily ground level ozone concentrations (r=-0.38, p=0.02), suggesting decreased parasympathetic activity in healthy people.

#### Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the research grant of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea to young scientists of the Republic of Crimea; state assignment (No. 121032300023-7; Lapchenko).
