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Blood Lead Levels and Decreased Kidney Function in a Population-Based Cohort

Harari, Florencia ; Sallsten, Gerd ; Christensson, Anders LU ; Petkovic, Marinka LU ; Hedblad, Bo LU ; Forsgard, Niklas ; Melander, Olle LU orcid ; Nilsson, Peter M. LU ; Borné, Yan LU and Engström, Gunnar LU , et al. (2018) In American Journal of Kidney Diseases 72(3). p.381-389
Abstract

Background: Environmental lead exposure has been associated with decreased kidney function, but evidence from large prospective cohort studies examining low exposure levels is scarce. We assessed the association of low levels of lead exposure with kidney function and kidney disease. Study Design: Prospective population-based cohort. Setting & Participants: 4,341 individuals aged 46 to 67 years enrolled into the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study-Cardiovascular Cohort (1991-1994) and 2,567 individuals subsequently followed up (2007-2012). Predictor: Blood lead concentrations in quartiles (Q1-Q4) at baseline. Outcomes: Change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the baseline and follow-up visit based on serum creatinine... (More)

Background: Environmental lead exposure has been associated with decreased kidney function, but evidence from large prospective cohort studies examining low exposure levels is scarce. We assessed the association of low levels of lead exposure with kidney function and kidney disease. Study Design: Prospective population-based cohort. Setting & Participants: 4,341 individuals aged 46 to 67 years enrolled into the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study-Cardiovascular Cohort (1991-1994) and 2,567 individuals subsequently followed up (2007-2012). Predictor: Blood lead concentrations in quartiles (Q1-Q4) at baseline. Outcomes: Change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the baseline and follow-up visit based on serum creatinine level alone or in combination with cystatin C level. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence (185 cases) through 2013 detected using a national registry. Measurements: Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models to assess associations between lead levels and eGFRs at baseline and follow-up and change in eGFRs over time. Cox regression was used to examine associations between lead levels and CKD incidence. Validation of 100 randomly selected CKD cases showed very good agreement between registry data and medical records and laboratory data. Results: At baseline, 60% of study participants were women, mean age was 57 years, and median lead level was 25 (range, 1.5-258) μg/L. After a mean of 16 years of follow-up, eGFR decreased on average by 6 mL/min/1.73 m2 (based on creatinine) and 24 mL/min/1.73 m2 (based on a combined creatinine and cystatin C equation). eGFR change was higher in Q3 and Q4 of blood lead levels compared with Q1 (P for trend = 0.001). The HR for incident CKD in Q4 was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.07-2.08) compared with Q1 to Q3 combined. Limitations: Lead level measured only at baseline, moderate number of CKD cases, potential unmeasured confounding. Conclusions: Low-level lead exposure was associated with decreased kidney function and incident CKD. Our findings suggest lead nephrotoxicity even at low levels of exposure.

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publication status
published
subject
keywords
Blood lead level, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cystatin C, environmental exposure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), incident CKD, kidney function, lead exposure, nephrotoxin, Pb, serum creatinine
in
American Journal of Kidney Diseases
volume
72
issue
3
pages
381 - 389
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85046133767
  • pmid:29699886
ISSN
0272-6386
DOI
10.1053/j.ajkd.2018.02.358
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b5cdfb0e-51a8-405e-a51a-969489fe035d
date added to LUP
2018-05-15 14:51:04
date last changed
2024-04-15 06:42:01
@article{b5cdfb0e-51a8-405e-a51a-969489fe035d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Environmental lead exposure has been associated with decreased kidney function, but evidence from large prospective cohort studies examining low exposure levels is scarce. We assessed the association of low levels of lead exposure with kidney function and kidney disease. Study Design: Prospective population-based cohort. Setting &amp; Participants: 4,341 individuals aged 46 to 67 years enrolled into the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study-Cardiovascular Cohort (1991-1994) and 2,567 individuals subsequently followed up (2007-2012). Predictor: Blood lead concentrations in quartiles (Q1-Q4) at baseline. Outcomes: Change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the baseline and follow-up visit based on serum creatinine level alone or in combination with cystatin C level. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence (185 cases) through 2013 detected using a national registry. Measurements: Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models to assess associations between lead levels and eGFRs at baseline and follow-up and change in eGFRs over time. Cox regression was used to examine associations between lead levels and CKD incidence. Validation of 100 randomly selected CKD cases showed very good agreement between registry data and medical records and laboratory data. Results: At baseline, 60% of study participants were women, mean age was 57 years, and median lead level was 25 (range, 1.5-258) μg/L. After a mean of 16 years of follow-up, eGFR decreased on average by 6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> (based on creatinine) and 24 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> (based on a combined creatinine and cystatin C equation). eGFR change was higher in Q3 and Q4 of blood lead levels compared with Q1 (P for trend = 0.001). The HR for incident CKD in Q4 was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.07-2.08) compared with Q1 to Q3 combined. Limitations: Lead level measured only at baseline, moderate number of CKD cases, potential unmeasured confounding. Conclusions: Low-level lead exposure was associated with decreased kidney function and incident CKD. Our findings suggest lead nephrotoxicity even at low levels of exposure.</p>}},
  author       = {{Harari, Florencia and Sallsten, Gerd and Christensson, Anders and Petkovic, Marinka and Hedblad, Bo and Forsgard, Niklas and Melander, Olle and Nilsson, Peter M. and Borné, Yan and Engström, Gunnar and Barregard, Lars}},
  issn         = {{0272-6386}},
  keywords     = {{Blood lead level; chronic kidney disease (CKD); cystatin C; environmental exposure; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); incident CKD; kidney function; lead exposure; nephrotoxin; Pb; serum creatinine}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{381--389}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Kidney Diseases}},
  title        = {{Blood Lead Levels and Decreased Kidney Function in a Population-Based Cohort}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2018.02.358}},
  doi          = {{10.1053/j.ajkd.2018.02.358}},
  volume       = {{72}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}