2025/12/20 by Duván Alexis Gómez-Castro, Ana Herrera-Gómez, Carolina Betancur-Figueroa +2 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Medicine · #Air Quality and Health Impacts #Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors #Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
paper · pdf · doi:10.64898/2025.12.17.25342533
openalex publication_date 2025/12/20 · openalex created_date 2025/12/21 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
Abstract Background Air pollution caused by fine particles has been recognized as a significant environmental risk factor. Over the past two decades, there has been a substantial increase in evidence on the impact of air pollutants on mortality and morbidity in vulnerable groups, such as children under 5 years of age, people over 60 years of age, and people with comorbidities, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. However, most studies have focused on nosologically identified respiratory and cardiovascular events. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between PM 2.5 ambient air pollution exposure and -physical fitness (PF), an attribute that determines an individuaĺs physical performance and general health, in adults from Medellin, Colombia. Methods A cross-sectional nested cohort study was conducted to establish exposure to PM 2.5 by each participant’s residence address. Physical fitness was assessed using the Dundee step test, sit-to-stand muscle power test, and grip strength. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for personal medical history were constructed to evaluate the study relationship. Results 320 participants were included, with an average age of 60 ± 8.7 years and an annual PM 2.5 ambient air pollution of 18.9 ± 1.75 µg/m 3 . People with PM 2.5 exposures above the 75th percentile showed greater use of the heart rate reserve (ß coefficient= 7.11; 95%CI 1.11-13.12) and better relative muscle power (ß coefficient= 0.50; 95%CI 0.23). -0.77) and grip strength (ß coefficient= 3.59; 95%CI 1.63-5.56). Conclusions This is the first study to explore the relationship between ambient PM 2.5 ambient air pollution and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in a Latin American city. Our results indicate that people with greater exposure to PM 2.5 have worse cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and better muscular fitness (MF). Key points Physical fitness determines an individual’s physical performance and general health status and includes indicators for establishing a cardiovascular baseline. Prolonged exposure to air pollution negatively affects cardiovascular health. However, few studies have analyzed physical fitness indicators in relation to this environmental risk factor, and none have been conducted in the Latin American population. It was established that people with higher exposure to PM 2.5 ambient air pollution at their residence address had worse cardiorespiratory fitness.