Andrei Pyko

Andrei Pyko

Affiliated to Research
Visiting address: Tomtebodavägen 18 A, 17177 Solna
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 ARC Medicin Rizzuto, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • Education
    2018, May 18 - Thesis defence: Long-term exposure to transportation noise in relation to metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes (.pdf)

    2012...2018 — PhD program in MEDICAL SCIENCE at IMM, KI

    2011 — Research Preparatory Course in Epidemiology, IMM, KI

    2010 — MD. General Medicine, Belarus State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus.

Research

  • As a project coordinator, I am involved in several Swedish, Scandinavian, and European research studies which are focused on environmental hazards and novel approaches of analyses, data visualisation and communication to results to general audience. Recent projects are listed below:

    Collaborative project(s) of IMM/CAMM:

    How are Stockholmers affected by reduced aviation noise? Bromma noise study (in Swedish)
    Miljöhälsa Online - online tool of easy access to up-to-date environmental health data from Stockholm County, primarily for municipal and regional politicians and civil servants (in Swedish)
    SCAPIS noise and air pollution (in Swedish)
    Traffic noise, air pollution and urban greenery and cardiovascular disease in women (in Swedish)
    Project(s) for Swedish Environmental Protection Agency:

    Traffic noise in the population: Exposure, vulnerable groups and annoyance (in Swedish) — 2018...2020
    The outdoor air in Stockholm County: Exposure, vulnerable groups and problems (in Swedish) — 2018...2020
    Exposure to perfluorinated substances from own well; blood test study in the population around Visby airport (in Swedish) — 2019...2020
    National exposure to greenness over the last 30 years — (ongoing) 2020...
    Scandinavian project(s):

    Nordic studies on occupational and traffic noise in relation to disease (NordSOUND, since 2017...)
    Scandinavian project(s):

    Studying the exposome for a healthier future for all children (Equal-Life, since 2020)
    During my PhD project 2012-2018, I have studied the possible health effects of transportation noise exposure in adults, with the aim to assess metabolic and cardiovascular effects of noise exposure from road traffic, railway and aircraft. Particular focus was on interactions with traffic-related air pollution and other risk factors of CVD and metabolic outcomes. Together with colleagues, we developed unique methodologies for detailed estimation of individual long-term exposure to noise and air pollution which was combined with a number of large and well-characterized epidemiologic materials from Stockholm County.

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 October 2023 - 30 September 2029
    Research problem and specific questions: Strong evidence links high outdoor temperatures to increased population morbidity, but little is known about the relationship between heat exposure indoors and its impact on health. Presently, no empirically supported recommendations regarding an upper indoor temperature threshold for health exist. Defining such a threshold is important as without this it will be difficult to establish any regulatory requirements that ensure that future buildings are sufficiently resilient to warmer summers. As the frequency of heat waves increases, understanding the sensitivity of different dwellings to outdoor temperature, especially in homes occupied by the elderly, is critical. This collaboration programme between six Swedish Universities aims to establish an evidence-based upper indoor temperature threshold for wellbeing
    identify dwelling-specific characteristics that are most likely to increase the risk of heat-related illness, develop a temperature sensitivity regression model for indoor temperature prediction, and visualise area-level heat-vulnerability of the buildings on interactive maps, made available for a wide variety of endusers.Data and method: We aim to collect indoor temperature and humidity data, self-reported information about sleep quality, mental and physical health, as well as dwelling-specific characteristics from 4,000 adults across Sockholm, Malmö, Göteborg and Umeå during summer months, 2024-2027, by using temperature loggers, automatic text messages and electronic questionnaires. Physiological health data will be collected from 400 senior citizens by using Actiheart-5, activity, heart rate and sleep monitors. The associations between indoor temperatures and physical and mental health outcomes will be examined by multiple regression models. A model for prediction of indoor temperatures in different types of buildings will be developed by fitting the collected indoor temperature data to a modified energy balance model.Relevance and utilisation: The sustainability of housing policy includes ensuring access to a healthy indoor environment for all socio-economic groups. Being able to predict how different buildings are likely to respond to high outdoor temperatures is important for mitigating their potentially harmful impact. The present programme aims to fill the gaps in knowledge regarding the role that different building characteristics play in personal temperature exposure and visualise these problems on interactive maps for wider public, which is important for improving heat epidemiology, preparing prevention programmes.Plan for programme realisation: The data will be collected during four summers, after which model development and data analyse will be conducted. Regular research group and stakeholder meetings will be held. Programme costs include salaries for a research assistant and statistician, costs for technical devices, as well as postal costs for the distribution of temperature loggers.
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 October 2023 - 30 September 2029
    Research problem and specific questionsUrban living environments challenge the individual’s capacity to maintain a good health throughout the course of life. In Sweden, current trends in housing and neighborhood conditions tend to further increase disparities in health. The rapid urbanization and densification of Stockholm County makes it an optimal setting for studying health effects of urban living, for example in relation to air quality, transportation noise, urban greenness, climate change and overcrowded housing. In this program, we aim to assess and develop strategies for building a sustainable city promoting equitable public health among inhabitants of urbanized areas.Data and methodsThe program will use a variety of different data materials and methods. To map environmental hazards in Stockholm County, a new GIS-based tool aimed at regional stakeholders will be developed. A new cohort, based on the National Environmental Health Survey 2023, will form the basis for analyses of environmental health associations and estimates of disease burden. Furthermore, the effects on children’s development, education and health from overcrowded housing will be investigated in a nation-wide cohort study and in an intervention setting. In a literature review, we will summarize evidence on environmental interventions which can guide stakeholders in implementing planning and mitigation measures.Relevance and utilizationThe national Commission for Equity in Health listed 7 key areas of life which determine health inequalities. Among these, the intended program has a focus on Housing and neighborhood conditions but is also of relevance for aspects of Early life development, Health behavior, and Control, influence and participation. By this program, we aim to establish a strong research infrastructure for monitoring and assessing the impact of the built environment on public health and for the promotion of environmental health equity. This is in line with several other initiatives and governing documents within Sweden, e.g. “Health as a driving force for the environmental goals and sustainable development”, initiated by Miljömålsrådet.Plan for program realizationThe program will be carried out at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with the Center for Occupational and Environmental medicine, Region Stockholm, and builds on six different work packages, each with its specific aims, activities, and deliverables. The researchers of the program represent many different disciplines, spanning from environmental medicine, public health and epidemiology to GIS, nursing and multicultural psychiatry, and will work closely together in the different work-packages. To ensure a good dialogue with end-users of our research, we will host, and take part in, an array of activities throughout the program progression, e.g. via reference groups, seminars, workshops, regional networks and other applied activities.
  • Dwelling vulnerability in a changing climate: Indoor heat exposure and public health
    Forte
    1 October 2023 - 30 September 2029
    Research problem and specific questions: Strong evidence links high outdoor temperatures to increased population morbidity, but little is known about the relationship between heat exposure indoors and its impact on health. Presently, no empirically supported recommendations regarding an upper indoor temperature threshold for health exist. Defining such a threshold is important as without this it will be difficult to establish any regulatory requirements that ensure that future buildings are sufficiently resilient to warmer summers. As the frequency of heat waves increases, understanding the sensitivity of different dwellings to outdoor temperature, especially in homes occupied by the elderly, is critical. This collaboration programme between six Swedish Universities aims to establish an evidence-based upper indoor temperature threshold for wellbeing
    identify dwelling-specific characteristics that are most likely to increase the risk of heat-related illness, develop a temperature sensitivity regression model for indoor temperature prediction, and visualise area-level heat-vulnerability of the buildings on interactive maps, made available for a wide variety of endusers. Data and method: We aim to collect indoor temperature and humidity data, self-reported information about sleep quality, mental and physical health, as well as dwelling-specific characteristics from 4,000 adults across Sockholm, Malmö, Göteborg and Umeå during summer months, 2024-2027, by using temperature loggers, automatic text messages and electronic questionnaires. Physiological health data will be collected from 400 senior citizens by using Actiheart-5, activity, heart rate and sleep monitors. The associations between indoor temperatures and physical and mental health outcomes will be examined by multiple regression models. A model for prediction of indoor temperatures in different types of buildings will be developed by fitting the collected indoor temperature data to a modified energy balance model. Relevance and utilisation: The sustainability of housing policy includes ensuring access to a healthy indoor environment for all socio-economic groups. Being able to predict how different buildings are likely to respond to high outdoor temperatures is important for mitigating their potentially harmful impact. The present programme aims to fill the gaps in knowledge regarding the role that different building characteristics play in personal temperature exposure and visualise these problems on interactive maps for wider public, which is important for improving heat epidemiology, preparing prevention programmes. Plan for programme realisation: The data will be collected during four summers, after which model development and data analyse will be conducted. Regular research group and stakeholder meetings will be held. Programme costs include salaries for a research assistant and statistician, costs for technical devices, as well as postal costs for the distribution of temperature loggers.
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
    Research problem and specific questions. Traffic noise is an environmental exposure of growing concern with mounting evidence of serious adverse health effects. At least one in five Europeans (approximately 113 million people) are exposed to noise levels exceeding the European Environment Agency indicator level linked to harmful health effects. Besides the increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic effects, hearing loss, and sleep disturbance, more recent studies have indicated that prolonged exposure to noise might accelerate the risk of cognitive impairment, degenerative dementia, anxiety, and depression.  Data and Methods. We take advantage of the pre-existing data within the Nordic Studies on Occupational and Traffic Noise in Relation to Disease (NordSOUND) project, comprising over 185 000 adults from five Swedish and two Danish cohorts, to investigate whether exposure to traffic and occupational noise is related to dementia and mental health (depression, and anxiety) and to reveal potential mechanisms. We will adjust for individual- and area-level covariates to enable increased precision in the assessment of associations. We will also adjust for residential air pollution exposure and lack of greenness to explore the potential interactions.  Plan for project realization. The research group involved in the project is multidisciplinary, and the complementary expertise of the team members will guarantee a broad perspective considering clinical, social, and public health relevance as well as adequate methodological and management skills. A postdoc research fellow will implement the study plan, coordinated and supervised by project leader and senior researchers. Relevance. This collaborative research effort will address a considerable knowledge gap regarding noise exposure, dementia and mental health. Our results may have significant implications for risk assessment and public health policy, especially considering the recently relaxed noise guidelines in Sweden and the rapid urban growth.
  • Swedish Research Council for Environment Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
    1 January 2023
    Traffic noise is an environmental exposure of growing concern with mounting evidence of serious adverse health effects. At least one in five Europeans (113 million people) are exposed to noise levels exceeding the European Environment Agency indicator level linked to harmful health effects. Besides the increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic effects, hearing loss, and sleep disturbance, recent studies have indicated that prolonged exposure to noise might accelerate the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, anxiety, and depression.We take advantage of the pre-existing data within the Nordic Studies on Occupational and Traffic Noise in Relation to Disease (NordSOUND) project, comprising over 185 000 adults from 5 Swedish and 2 Danish cohorts, to investigate whether exposure to traffic and occupational noise is related to dementia and mental health (depression, and anxiety) and to reveal potential mechanisms. We will adjust for individual- and area-level covariates to enable increased precision in the assessment of associations. We will also adjust for residential air pollution exposure and lack of greenness to explore the potential interactions.This collaborative research effort will address a considerable knowledge gap regarding noise exposure, dementia and mental health. Our results may have significant implications for risk assessment and public health policy, especially considering the recently relaxed noise guidelines in Sweden and the rapid urban growth.
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 July 2019 - 30 June 2020

Employments

  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2026

Degrees and Education

  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2018

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