Association between blood lead level and blood pressure in aborigines and others in central Taiwan.
To investigate the relationship between the blood lead level (BLL) and blood pressure among aborigines and non-aborigines in central Taiwan, a community-based survey that included demographic data, medical history, and blood chemistry analyses was conducted among 2,565 adults during an annual health examination. BLLs were analyzed using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). There was a dose response among the non-aborigines (high BLL odds ratio = 2.97, compared with low BLL) but not among aborigines. Based on multiple linear regression models, BLLs were positively correlated with both systolic (an increase of 0.85 mm Hg/microg/dL) and diastolic (an increase of 0.48 mm Hg/microg/dL) blood pressures after adjusting for age, gender, ethnic group, alcohol consumption, and body mass index. BLLs were higher among aborigines than non-aborigines and were significantly correlated with blood pressure, particularly systolic pressure. The association should be considered causal.
Kuo
Hsien-Wen
HW
Institute of Environmental Health, China Medical University, No 91, Hsueh-Shin RD, Taichung, Taiwan. wukuo@mail.cmu.edu.tw
Lai
Li-Hsing
LH
Chou
Sze-Yuan
SY
Wu
Fang-Yang
FY
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology
D007854:Lead