Association between heavy metals, high-sensitivity C-reaction protein and 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases among adult Korean population

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 14664 - 14
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Hai Duc, Oh, Hojin, Hoang, Ngoc Hong Minh, Kim, Min-Sun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 19.07.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/4019; 704/172; Adult; Aged; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Body mass index; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cadmium; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cotinine; COVID-19; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Female; Genetics; Health risks; Heavy metals; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hyperlipidemia; Inflammation; Lead; Male; Mercury; Metal concentrations; Metals, Heavy - blood; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Pandemics; Physical activity; Prevalence; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spectral analysis; Spectrometry; Young Adult; Republic of Korea
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94158-9

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Korea tends to be increasing. It has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing evidence shows heavy metals are associated with increased CVD risk. We aimed to determine the association between the serum heavy metal levels and 10-year risk of CVDs and to predict risks of CVDs based on marginal effects. Heavy metals were measured by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and direct mercury analyzer. The results show a significant relationship between the increase in cadmium, lead, mercury, hs-CRP levels and the 10-year risk of CVD after adjustment for serum cotinine, age group, sex, body mass index, a family history of CVDs, diabetes or hyperlipidemia, high-risk drinking, physical activity, and diabetes. A doubling of serum cadmium, lead, mercury, and hs-CRP was associated with the increase in the 10-year risk of CVD by 0.14%, 0.10%, 0.11% and 0.22%, respectively. Therefore, a special concern should be given to the harmful impacts of heavy metals on the 10-year risk of CVD. It is important to develop a prevention strategy targeting the high-risk population to slow down this progression to risk factors related to heavy metals and reduce prevalence. Remarkedly, hs-CRP is the most validated and widely used inflammatory marker, and could be a potential clinical value in predicting and monitoring CVDs.