Effects of arsenic, selenium, lead and chromium in urine on blood pressure in people from arsenic exposure areas of Togtoh County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To learn about the incidence of hypertension in residents of arsenic exposure areas of Togtoh County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and to analyze the influencing factors of hypertension.Methods:In Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ciweigou of Togtoh County, a drinking water-type endemic arsenic poisoning area, and Lanjiayao of Horinger County, a non-arsenic poisoning area with similar living habits and economic conditions, permanent residents who had lived for ≥10 years were selected as the survey subjects. Totally 116 residents of Ciweigou (exposure group) and 68 residents of Lanjiayao (control group) were included in the survey. Blood pressure was measured and the contents of arsenic, selenium, lead and chromium in urine were detected, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of hypertension.Results:The detection rates of hypertension in exposure group and control group were 53.45% (62/116) and 70.59% (48/68), respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ 2 = 5.33, P = 0.022). The contents of arsenic, selenium and chromium in urine of exposure group were higher than those of control group, and the content of lead in urine was lower than that of control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z = 13.04, 6.34, 11.28, - 9.91, P < 0.001). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female, age ≥60 years old and high urinary arsenic content were the influencing factors of hypertension [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.074, 2.004, 0.424, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.113 - 3.866, 1.035 - 3.879, 0.219 - 0.820] in arsenic exposure areas. Conclusion:Female, age ≥60 years old and high urinary arsenic content are the influencing factors of hypertension in arsenic exposure areas of Togtoh County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.