Background

Whereas it is plausible that unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) may adversely affect cardiovascular health, little is currently known. We investigate whether UNGD is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

In this observational study leveraging the natural experiment generated by New York's ban on hydraulic fracturing, we analyzed the relationship between age- and sex-specific county-level AMI hospitalization and mortality rates and three UNGD drilling measures. This longitudinal panel analysis compares Pennsylvania and New York counties on the Marcellus Shale observed over 2005–2014 (N = 2840 county-year-quarters).

Results

A hundred cumulative wells is associated with 0.26 more hospitalizations per 10,000 males 45-54y.o. (95% CI 0.07,0.46), 0.40 more hospitalizations per 10,000 males 65-74y.o. (95% CI 0.09,0.71), 0.47 more hospitalizations per 10,000 females 65-74y.o. (95% CI 0.18,0.77) and 1.11 more hospitalizations per 10,000 females 75y.o.+ (95% CI 0.39,1.82), translating into 1.4–2.8% increases. One additional well per square mile is associated with 2.63 more hospitalizations per 10,000 males 45-54y.o. (95% CI 0.67,4.59) and 9.7 hospitalizations per 10,000 females 75y.o.+ (95% CI 1.92,17.42), 25.8% and 24.2% increases, respectively. As for mortality rates, a hundred cumulative wells is associated with an increase of 0.09 deaths per 10,000 males 45-54y.o. (95% CI 0.02,0.16), a 5.3% increase.

Conclusions

Cumulative UNGD is associated with increased AMI hospitalization rates among middle-aged men, older men and older women as well as with increased AMI mortality among middle-aged men. Our findings lend support for increased awareness about cardiovascular risks of UNGD and scaled-up AMI prevention as well as suggest that bans on hydraulic fracturing can be protective for public health.

中文翻译：

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与非常规天然气开发相关的急性心肌梗死：自然实验

背景

尽管非常规天然气开发 (UNGD) 可能对心血管健康产生不利影响是合理的，但目前知之甚少。我们调查 UNGD 是否与急性心肌梗死 (AMI) 相关。

方法

在这项利用纽约禁止水力压裂产生的自然实验的观察性研究中，我们分析了年龄和性别特定的县级 AMI 住院率和死亡率以及三项 UNGD 钻井措施之间的关系。该纵向面板分析比较了 2005 年至 2014 年期间观察到的马塞勒斯页岩上的宾夕法尼亚州和纽约县（N = 2840 个县年季度）。

结果

每 10,000 名 45 至 54 岁的男性累积一百口井与 0.26 次住院有关。(95% CI 0.07,0.46)，每 10,000 名 65-74 岁男性住院人数增加 0.40。（95% CI 0.09,0.71），每 10,000 名 65-74 岁女性住院人数增加 0.47 人。（95% CI 0.18,0.77）和每 10,000 名 75 岁以上女性住院人数增加 1.11 人（95% CI 0.39,1.82），这意味着增加了 1.4-2.8%。每平方英里增加一口井与每 10,000 名 45-54 岁男性的住院人数增加 2.63 人相关。(95% CI 0.67,4.59) 和每 10,000 名 75 岁以上女性住院 9.7 人次 (95% CI 1.92,17.42)，分别增加 25.8% 和 24.2%。至于死亡率，一百口累积井与每 10,000 名 45-54 岁男性死亡人数增加 0.09 人有关。(95% CI 0.02,0.16)，增加 5.3%。

结论

累积 UNGD 与中年男性、老年男性和老年女性的 AMI 住院率增加以及中年男性的 AMI 死亡率增加有关。我们的研究结果支持提高对 UNGD 心血管风险的认识和扩大 AMI 预防，并表明禁止水力压裂可以保护公众健康。