Publication Date
2021
Journal or Book Title
Environment International
Abstract
Background: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals that have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors including elevated body weight and hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, PFAS may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, no previous study has evaluated associations between PFAS exposure and arterial calcification. Methods and results: This study used data from 666 prediabetic adults enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program trial who had six PFAS quantified in plasma at baseline and two years after randomization, as well as measurements of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and ascending (AsAC) and descending (DAC) thoracic aortic calcification 13-14 years after baseline. We performed multinomial regression to test associations between PFAS and CAC categorized according to Agatston score [low (<10), moderate (11-400) and severe (>400)]. We used logistic regression to assess associations between PFAS and presence of AsAC and DAC. We adjusted models for baseline sex, age, BMI, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking, education, treatment assignment (placebo or lifestyle intervention), and statin use. PFAS concentrations were similar to national means; 53.9% of participants had CAC > 11, 7.7% had AsAC, and 42.6% had DAC. Each doubling of the mean sum of plasma concentrations of linear and branched isomers of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was associated with 1.49-fold greater odds (95% CI: 1.01, 2.21) of severe versus low CAC. This association was driven mainly by the linear (n-PFOS) isomer [1.54 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.25) greater odds of severe versus low CAC]. Each doubling of mean plasma N-ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid concentration was associated with greater odds of CAC in a dose dependent manner [OR = 1.26 (95% CI:1.08, 1.47) for moderate CAC and OR = 1.37 (95% CI:1.07, 1.74) for severe CAC, compared to low CAC)]. Mean plasma PFOS and n-PFOS were also associated with greater odds of AsAC [OR = 1.67 (95% CI:1.10, 2.54) and OR = 1.70 (95% CI:1.13, 2.56), respectively], but not DAC. Other PFAS were not associated with outcomes. Conclusions: Prediabetic adults with higher plasma concentrations of select PFAS had higher risk of coronary and thoracic aorta calcification. PFAS exposure may be a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular health among high risk populations.
ISSN
0160-4120
ORCID
Sanchez-Guerra, Marco/0000-0002-8354-1157; Lin, Pi-i/0000-0003-3564-4255; Cardenas, Andres/0000-0003-2284-3298
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106446
Volume
151
License
UMass Amherst Open Access Policy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Funder
US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of HealthUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) [R01ES024765, K23ES024803, R01ES030101]
Recommended Citation
Osorio-Yáñez, Citlalli; Sanchez-Guerra, Marco; Cardenas, Andres; Lin, Pi-I D.; Hauser, Russ; Gold, Diane R.; Kleinman, Ken P.; Hivert, Marie-France; Fleisch, Abby F.; and Calafat, Antonia M., "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Calcifications of the Coronary and Aortic Arteries in Adults with Prediabetes: Results from the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study" (2021). Biostatistics and Epidemiology Faculty Publications Series.
151
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106446