Heavy Metals and the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease in the adults: the 2008 – 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Background: The lifestyle factors including cigarette smoking, alcohol drink, diet and exercise, are considered main environmental influences on the cardiovascular disease, whereas the contribution of environmental exposure of metals is less clear. There are several studies have identified that exposure to metals is associated with coronary heart disease. However, sex differences exist in this respect is not well studied. Aims: We assessed the association between heavy metals and risk of coronary heart disease in Korean adults. Methods: Relationships between heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury) and risk of coronary heart disease were evaluated by linear multiple regression models, with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as confounding factors – in 4,491 adults (2,227 men, 2,264 women), aged 30 years and older, who participated in the 2008 – 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. Results: After adjustment for several factors, blood cadmium was the only major determinant of the FRS in men (beta=1.40, 95%CI: 0.96 ~ 1.85, p < 0.001), while 3 metals were not associated with the Framingham Risk Score in women. Conclusions: Sex differences exist regarding circulating levels of metals. Cadmium levels were significantly higher in males, while cadmium, lead, and mercury levels were not significantly in females. There are associations between metals and the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease, with cadmium levels being the most important for males in this population.