Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Socioeconomic status links to exposure of air pollutants. This study evaluates global PM(2.5)-attributable ischemic heart disease (IHD) burden from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data, PM(2.5)-related IHD burdens were analyzed. Joinpoint regression identified annual percentage changes (AAPCs); Pearson correlation assessed associations with Socio-demographic Index (SDI); Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Concentration Index (CI) were applied to quantify inequality; Frontier analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of health outcomes relative to development level; Decomposition analysis was performed to identify key drivers of burden changes over time. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, age-standardized rates (ASMR, ASDR) of IHD attributable to ambient PM(2.5) declined to 20.85 per 100,000 (AAPC = -0.7), with attributable to household PM(2.5) decreased to 9.02 per 100,000 (AAPC = -2.49). Middle-low SDI regions exhibited the highest increases in ambient PM(2.5)-related burden, whereas high SDI regions showed marked declines (AAPC = -4.31). All regions showed downward in household PM(2.5)-attributable ASMR and ASDR. Disease burden was disproportionately higher among males and older populations. ASMR and ASDR of IHD exhibited a nonlinear association with SDI. PM(2.5) demonstrated positive correlation in regions with SDI < 0.49, and negative correlation in regions with SDI > 0.623. SII and CI indicated rising inequality in ambient PM(2.5)-related burden. Frontier analysis revealed efficiency gaps in low-SDI regions. Decomposition highlighted population aging and ambient PM(2.5) exposure as major drivers of burden trends. CONCLUSION: Ambient pollution burdens increase in middle-SDI and household pollution impacts focus on low-SDI, which needs prioritizing clean energy and protecting high-risk populations.