Cross-section analysis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity within Kailuan study.

BACKGROUND: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, there is no related data on the association of baPWVwith coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). We explored the baPWV in subjects withCWP and the associated risk factors. METHODS: Thiscase-control study included 1,007 male CWP cases without a history of stroke and coronary heart disease and 1,007 matched controls from the Kailuan cohort study. All of the participants underwent assessment for baPWV and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The cumulative silica dust exposure (work history linked to a job-exposure matrix) was estimated for the CWP cases. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the CWP cases had higher baPWV (1762.0 ± 355 cm/s vs. 1718.6 ± 354 cm/s, P = 0.006) and a higher risk of increased baPWV (defined as more than the median baPWV of the population distribution; odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.83) after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Age ≥60 years, body mass index, heart rate, and hypertension were all significantly associated with increased baPWV in the CWP cases. Compared to non-CWP subjects without hypertension, the odds ratios for increased baPWV gradually increased (P for trend, 0.001) across the CWP subjects without hypertension (odds ratio 1.20, 95%confidence interval 0.90-1.61), subjects with hypertension alone (odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.95-3.30), and CWP subjects with hypertension (odds ratio 3.34, 95% confidence interval 2.56-4.37). We detected a significant positive exposure-response relationship between silica dust-exposure quartiles and increased baPWV in CWP cases (P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with CWP, increased baPWV was associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and long-term silica dust exposure.

[Prevalence of prehypertension and associated cardiovascular risk: two years follow up results].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the prevalence, blood pressure change in prehypertensive population and associated cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Data from a prehypertensive cohort defined with the JNC-7 prehypertension diagnostic criteria were obtained in the employees of kailuan group during the health examination between 2006 to 2007 and the same population was revisited between 2008 to 2009 to observe the change of blood pressure and the associated determinants for blood pressure change. RESULTS: (1) There were 25 474 prehypertensive during the 1(st) visit and 8361 subjects developed hypertension during the 2(nd) visit (35.3% in men and 23.3% in women, 27.2% with baseline blood pressure 120 - 129/80 - 84 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and 43.8% with baseline blood pressure 130 - 139/85 - 89 mm Hg, 34.3% with risk factors and 19.9% without risk factors). (2) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of blood pressure progression with a RR (95%CI) of 1.052 (1.048 - 1.056), 1.009 (1.006 - 1.013), 1.023 (1.021 - 1.026), 1.063 (1.052 - 1.074), 1.554 (1.442 - 1.675), 1.036 (1.029 - 1.043), 1.064 (1.037 - 1.093), 1.043 (1.024 - 1.062), 1.041 (1.021 - 1.062) and 1.035 (1.000 - 1.072), respectively. CONCLUSION: A third (32.8%) prehypertensive population progressed into hypertension after two years, baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of predicting blood pressure progression.

Air pollution and fasting blood glucose: A longitudinal study in China.

Limited studies have examined the associations between air pollutants [particles with diameters of 10 µm or less (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] and fasting blood glucose (FBG). We collected data for 27,685 participants who were followed during 2006 and 2008. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used to examine the effects of air pollutants on FBG while controlling for potential confounders. We found that increased exposure to NO2, SO2 and PM10 was significantly associated with increased FBG levels in single pollutant models (p<0.001). For exposure to 4 days' average of concentrations, a 100 µg/m(3) increase in SO2, NO2, and PM10 was associated with 0.17 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.15-0.19), 0.53 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.42-0.65), and 0.11 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.07-0.15) increase in FBG, respectively. In the multi-pollutant models, the effects of SO2 were enhanced, while the effects of NO2 and PM10 were alleviated. The effects of air pollutants on FBG were stronger in female, elderly, and overweight people than in male, young and underweight people. In conclusion, the findings suggest that air pollution increases the levels of FBG. Vulnerable people should pay more attention on highly polluted days to prevent air pollution-related health issues.