BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
however, the association and underlying mechanisms in individuals with diabetes remain unconfirmed. METHODS: We used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) to follow 5,430 adults over a four-year period. Baseline CVD and diabetes status were determined, and high-resolution data were used to assess air pollution exposure to PM RESULTS: The prevalence of CVD was 8.5% in the healthy population and 13.8% in the diabetic population. Air pollution exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD among diabetic individuals. For each interquartile range (IQR) increase in concentrations of pollutants O CONCLUSION: Among middle-aged and older adults with diabetes, exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of CVD, and ILR intensifies this process. Therefore, implementing effective public health interventions to reduce air pollution exposure in diabetic populations is essential.