Correlations between geomagnetic field and global occurrence of cardiovascular diseases: evidence from 204 territories in different latitude

2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 371

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typeecological

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Correlations between geomagnetic field and global occurrence of cardiovascular diseases: evidence from 204 territories in different latitude Chai Z, Wang Y, Li YM, Zhao ZG, Chen M. Correlations between geomagnetic field and global occurrence of cardiovascular diseases: evidence from 204 territories in different latitude. BMC Public Health. 2023 Sep 11;23(1):1771. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16698-1. Abstract Background: The correlation between stable geomagnetic fields and unstable geomagnetic activities with mortality, incidence, and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains ambiguous. Method: To investigate the correlations between geomagnetic field (GMF) intensity and geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) and CVDs events in global, long-period scale, global and 204 countries and territories were included on the base of 2019 Global Burden of Disease study (GBD 2019). Data of GMF intensity, GMD frequency, CVDs events, weather and health economic indicators from 1996 to 2019 of included locations were collected. Linear regression and panel data modelling were conducted to identify the correlations between GMF intensity and CVDs events, multi-factor panel data analysis was also generated to adjust the effect of confounding factors. Results: For the average data during 1996-2019, linear regression model revealed consistent positive correlations between total GMF (tGMF) intensity and mortality of total CVDs [coef = 0.009, (0.006,0.011 95%CI)], whereas negative correlations were found between horizonal GMF (hGMF) intensity and total CVD mortality [coef = -0.010 (-0.013, -0.007 95%CI)]. When considering the time trend, panel data analysis still demonstrated positive correlation between tGMF and total CVDs mortality [coef = 0.009, (0.008,0.009 95%CI)]. Concurrently, the hGMF negatively correlated with total CVDs mortality [coef = -0.008, (-0.009, -0.007 95%CI)]. When the panel models were adjusted for confounding factors, no reverse of correlation tendency was found between tGMF, hGMF and CVDs events. In high-income territories, positive correlation was found between geomagnetic storm (GMS) frequency and mortality of total CVDs [coef = 14.007,(2.785, 25.229 95%CI)], however, this positive trend faded away gradually with the latitude decreasing from polar to equator. Conclusions: Stable and long-term horizontal component of GMF may be beneficial to cardiac health. Unstable and short-term GMF called GMD could be a hazard to cardiac health. Our results suggest the importance of regular GMF in maintaining cardio-health state and the adverse impacts of GMD on cardiac health. Open access paper: bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeecological

Effect directionmixed

Population204 countries and territories (global)

Sample size204

Exposure1996–2019 (average and panel analyses); outcomes based on GBD 2019

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using global data (1996–2019) across 204 territories, tGMF intensity was positively correlated with total CVD mortality in linear regression and panel models (e.g., coef ~0.009). hGMF intensity was negatively correlated with total CVD mortality (e.g., coef ~-0.008 to -0.010). In high-income territories, geomagnetic storm frequency was positively correlated with total CVD mortality, with the positive trend diminishing as latitude decreased from polar to equator.

Outcomes measured

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (total CVDs)
CVD incidence
CVD prevalence
Associations with geomagnetic storm (GMS) frequency
Associations with total geomagnetic field (tGMF) intensity
Associations with horizontal geomagnetic field (hGMF) intensity

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "ecological",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "geomagnetic field / geomagnetic disturbance",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1996–2019 (average and panel analyses); outcomes based on GBD 2019"
  },
  "population": "204 countries and territories (global)",
  "sample_size": 204,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (total CVDs)",
    "CVD incidence",
    "CVD prevalence",
    "Associations with geomagnetic storm (GMS) frequency",
    "Associations with total geomagnetic field (tGMF) intensity",
    "Associations with horizontal geomagnetic field (hGMF) intensity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using global data (1996–2019) across 204 territories, tGMF intensity was positively correlated with total CVD mortality in linear regression and panel models (e.g., coef ~0.009). hGMF intensity was negatively correlated with total CVD mortality (e.g., coef ~-0.008 to -0.010). In high-income territories, geomagnetic storm frequency was positively correlated with total CVD mortality, with the positive trend diminishing as latitude decreased from polar to equator.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "geomagnetic field",
    "geomagnetic disturbance",
    "geomagnetic storm",
    "cardiovascular diseases",
    "mortality",
    "incidence",
    "prevalence",
    "latitude",
    "panel data",
    "Global Burden of Disease"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Study concerns environmental electromagnetic/geomagnetic exposures and health at population level; could be relevant to broader EMF health evidence discussions (not explicitly WHO/ICNIRP in abstract)."
    },
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0,
      "reason": null
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16698-1
PubMed: Not supplied

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