CAD Risk Less, Endothelial Function Improved in Cleaner Environment

April 8, 2008 - A study using Itamar Medical's Endo-PAT2000, an FDA-cleared device used to assess endothelial function, found that when indoor air particles are reduced in a controlled study environment, endothelial function, an indicator of cardiovascular health, significantly improves.

Itamar Medical's Endo-PAT2000 was used for evaluating the effect of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters on endothelial function in healthy elderly patients residing close to major roads. Vaclavik et al. found that air filtration significantly improved endothelial function in the study subjects (Vaclavik et al. Indoor Particles Affect Vascular Function in the Aged. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2008; Vol 177. pp. 419-425). Endothelial function is an important indicator of vascular health, so much so that endothelial dysfunction has been described as the "ultimate risk of risk factors" (Bonetti et al., Endothelial Dysfunction: A Marker of Atherosclerotic Risk, ATVB, 2003;23;168-175).

Both short-term and long-term exposure to ambient levels of particulate are associated with increased fatalities related to respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Researchers in the study believe endothelial dysfunction, which is a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular conditions, may be the source of this increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

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