Highlights
- Long-term exposure to air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx significantly elevates the risk of developing valvular heart disease (VHD).
- Road traffic noise, quantified by Lden and Lnight metrics, independently associates with increased VHD incidence.
- These adverse associations persist across all major VHD subtypes, irrespective of genetic predisposition.
- Understanding the mechanistic pathways linking pollution to VHD may inform preventive strategies and public health policies.
Background
