Survey of adult carotid atherosclerosis in water-related endemic fluorosis areas in Heilongjiang province in 2008 / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the disease situation of adult carotid atherosclerosis in water-related endemic fluorosis areas in Heilongjiang province in 2008 so as to explore the relationship between water-related endemic fluorosis and incidence of carotid atherosclerosis disease. Methods A total of 266 participants over the age of 40 from four villages in Zhaozhou county with water fluoride ≥ 1.0 mg/L in a fluorosis area and 283 residents over the age of 40 from four villages in Tailai county with water fluoride ＜ 1.0 mg/L in a nonfluorosis area were investigated. A portable-type B mode color ultrasound was used to examine the left carotid artery of all participants.The carotid atherosclerosis was diagnosed and graded through the ultrasonograms. Results The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in the 4 fluorosis villages(Xinfeng, Taipingshan, Baochan and Houzheng villages) were 47.3% (35/74), 63.5%(40/63), 73.3%(33/45) and 60.7%(51/84), respectively, and in the 4 nonfluorosis villages(Hala,Qianxing, Sanjia and Ailin villages) were 32.7% (17/52), 32.9% (24/73), 39.2% (31/79) and 30.4% (24/79),respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in every villages standardized by age were 47.3% ,63.5%,73.3% ,60.7% and 34.7% ,36.3% ,43.0% ,41.3%, respectively. Statistic method used was Wilcoxon two sample test and the differences were significant(T = 26, P ＜ 0.05 ). Total carotid atherosclerosis positive rate standardized by age in the 4 fluorosis villages was significantly higher than that in the 4 nonfluorosis villages[57.5%(153/266) ,37.8% (107/283), x2 = 21.36, P ＜ 0.01 ]. After standardized by age, the severity of carotid atherosclerosis was significantly different between fluorosis villages and nonfluorosis villages (x2 = 36.15, P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion The prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis in endemic fluorosis area is higher than that in nonfluorosis area.