Increased risk of QT prolongation associated with atherosclerotic diseases in arseniasis-endemic area in southwestern coast of Taiwan
- Department of Cardiology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan (China)
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (China)
- Department of Public Health and Graduate Institute of Epidemiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (China)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (China)
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan (China)
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (China)
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (China)
Chronic arsenic exposure has been documented to be associated with various cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate 1) the increased risk of QT prolongation in chronic arsenic exposure, and 2) the relationships of cardiac repolarization (QT interval duration) with ischemic heart disease and carotid atherosclerosis. We studied 280 men and 355 women living in the endemic area of arseniasis in southwestern Taiwan. QT intervals in electrocardiogram and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography were measured. Ischemic heart disease was diagnosed by history or abnormal electrocardiogram. Significant associations of the corrected QT interval (QTc) duration with ischemic heart disease and carotid intima-medium thickness and plaque were observed after adjustment for various risk factors in the multiple linear regression analysis (all p values < 0.05). Three indices of chronic arsenic exposure were all significantly associated with the risk of QTc prolongation showing dose-response relationships (p < 0.001). Chronic arsenic exposure was dose-dependently associated with the risk of QTc prolongation. Ischemic heart disease and carotid atherosclerosis were significantly associated with QTc intervals in chronic arsenic exposure. QTc prolongation might be suggested as an early biomarker for ischemic heart disease or carotid atherosclerosis in population with previous exposure to arsenic.
- OSTI ID:
- 21272657
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 239, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2009.06.017; PII: S0041-008X(09)00264-6; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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