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This population-based cohort study involving over 65 million U.S. Medicare beneficiaries demonstrates that long-term cumulative exposure to wildfire smoke-derived fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with a measurable increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospital admissions among older adults, especially ischemic heart disease and arrhythmias. The relationship shows a nonlinear pattern, with moderate exposure levels posing the highest relative risk. Lower socioeconomic groups appear more vulnerable, underscoring health disparities linked to environmental exposures.
