Association between Hypertension and Chronic Arsenic Exposure in Drinking Water: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Ismail Khan, John Attia, Sheikh Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, Mark McEvoy, Catherine D'Este, Syed Azim, Ayesha Akhter, Shahnaz Akter, Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah and Abul Hasnat Milton
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Mohammad Rafiqul Islam: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics (CCEB), The University of Newcastle, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Ismail Khan: Department of Pharmacology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
John Attia: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics (CCEB), The University of Newcastle, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Sheikh Mohammad Nazmul Hassan: Department of Public Health, Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
Mark McEvoy: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics (CCEB), The University of Newcastle, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Catherine D'Este: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics (CCEB), The University of Newcastle, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
Syed Azim: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Ayesha Akhter: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College, Targas, Kunia, Gazipur, Dhaka, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh
Shahnaz Akter: Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH), Matuail, Demra, Dhaka 1362, Bangladesh
Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah: NGO Forum for Drinking Water, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Abul Hasnat Milton: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics (CCEB), The University of Newcastle, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia

IJERPH, 2012, vol. 9, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Chronic arsenic exposure and its association with hypertension in adults are inconclusive and this cross-sectional study investigated the association. The study was conducted between January and July 2009 among 1,004 participants from 1,682 eligible women and men aged ?30 years living in rural Bangladesh who had continuously consumed arsenic-contaminated drinking water for at least 6 months. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ?140 mmHg (systolic hypertension) and diastolic blood pressure ?90 mmHg (diastolic hypertension). Pulse pressure was calculated by deducting diastolic from systolic pressure and considered to be increased when the difference was ?55 mmHg. The prevalence of hypertension was 6.6% (95% CI: 5.1–8.3%). After adjustment for other factors, no excess risk of hypertension was observed for arsenic exposure >50?g/L or to that of arsenic exposure as quartiles or as duration. Arsenic concentration as quartiles and >50 ?g/L did show a strong relationship with increased pulse pressure (adjusted OR: 3.54, 95% CI: 1.46–8.57), as did arsenic exposure for ?10 years (adjusted OR: 5.25, 95% CI: 1.41–19.51). Arsenic as quartiles showed a dose response relationship with increased pulse pressure. Our study suggests an association between higher drinking water arsenic or duration and pulse pressure, but not hypertension.

Keywords: arsenic; drinking-water; hypertension; pulse-pressure; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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