Metabolic Syndrome Biomarkers of World Trade Center Airway Hyperreactivity: A 16-Year Prospective Cohort Study

Sophia Kwon, George Crowley, Mena Mikhail, Rachel Lam, Emily Clementi, Rachel Zeig-Owens, Theresa M. Schwartz, Mengling Liu, David J. Prezant and Anna Nolan
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Sophia Kwon: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
George Crowley: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Mena Mikhail: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Rachel Lam: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Emily Clementi: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Rachel Zeig-Owens: Bureau of Health Services and Office of Medical Affairs, Fire Department of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
Theresa M. Schwartz: Bureau of Health Services and Office of Medical Affairs, Fire Department of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
Mengling Liu: Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
David J. Prezant: Bureau of Health Services and Office of Medical Affairs, Fire Department of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
Anna Nolan: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Airway hyperreactivity (AHR) related to environmental exposure is a significant public health risk worldwide. Similarly, metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), a risk factor for obstructive airway disease (OAD) and systemic inflammation, is a significant contributor to global adverse health. This prospective cohort study followed N = 7486 World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed male firefighters from 11 September 2001 (9/11) until 1 August 2017 and investigated N = 539 with newly developed AHR for clinical biomarkers of MetSyn and compared them to the non-AHR group. Male firefighters with normal lung function and no AHR pre-9/11 who had blood drawn from 9 September 2001–24 July 2002 were assessed. World Trade Center-Airway Hyperreactivity (WTC-AHR) was defined as either a positive bronchodilator response (BDR) or methacholine challenge test (MCT). The electronic medical record (EMR) was queried for their MetSyn characteristics (lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), glucose), and routine clinical biomarkers (such as complete blood counts). We modeled the association of MetSyn characteristics at the first post-9/11 exam with AHR. Those with AHR were significantly more likely to be older, have higher BMIs, have high intensity exposure, and have MetSyn. Smoking history was not associated with WTC-AHR. Those present on the morning of 9/11 had 224% increased risk of developing AHR, and those who arrived in the afternoon of 9/11 had a 75.9% increased risk. Having ?3 MetSyn parameters increased the risk of WTC-AHR by 65.4%. Co-existing MetSyn and high WTC exposure are predictive of future AHR and suggest that systemic inflammation may be a contributor.

Keywords: metabolic syndrome; airway hyperreactivity; World Trade Center (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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