Blood cadmium levels are associated with a decline in lung function in males.
BACKGROUND
Cadmium exposure was found to cause a decline in lung function among the general population, but these findings were limited to smokers and gender differences were not explored.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between cadmium and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to gender and smoking status in Korea.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011 were analyzed. COPD was defined by a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1s divided by forced vital capacity of <0.70. A logistic regression model was used to elucidate the association between blood cadmium levels and COPD according to gender and smoking status.


RESULTS
Among 3861 eligible participants, 3622 were included in the analysis. The prevalence of COPD demonstrated an increasing trend in males (P for trend<0.001), but not in females (P for trend=0.67). After adjusting for covariates, a higher blood cadmium level, but within the normal range, was associated with COPD in males, including those who had never-smoked (P for trend <0.001 and P for trend=0.008). However, a higher blood cadmium level was not significantly associated with COPD in females, including those who had never smoked (P for trend=0.39 and P for trend=0.43).


CONCLUSIONS
A higher blood cadmium level, within the normal range, was associated with COPD in males, including those who had never smoked. However, there was no significant association between blood cadmium levels and COPD in females.
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea; The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
Chang-Mo
CM
Oh
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
In-Hwan
IH
Oh
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Jong-Keun
JK
Lee
Departments of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yoon Hyung
YH
Park
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Bong-Keun
BK
Choe
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Tai-Young
TY
Yoon
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jmchoi@khu.ac.kr.
Joong-Myung
JM
Choi
D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D002104:Cadmium
Cadmium; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Gender; Lung function; Smoking