Household fuel types and nonfatal cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged and elderly adults.

Use of solid fuels, especially coal, for household heating and cooking is linked to a 53% and 10% increased risk of nonfatal cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged and elderly adults.

• Why it matters: Solid fuel-related household air pollution poses a significant health threat globally, but the specific risks associated with different fuel types and the potential for lifestyle changes to reduce these risks are not well understood.
• What they did: The study analyzed data from 7,671 participants in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2020), using Cox proportional hazards models to assess associations between household solid fuel use and incident nonfatal CVD, considering the modifying role of a healthy lifestyle score based on four behavioral factors.
• The result: Solid fuel use, particularly coal, was associated with increased nonfatal CVD risk, and a healthy lifestyle appeared to partially mitigate these adverse effects, suggesting that promoting clean energy and healthy behaviors could aid in CVD prevention.