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Plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiovascular disease – Results from two independent population-based cohorts and a meta-analysis

Dunder, Linda ; Salihovic, Samira ; Varotsis, Georgios ; Lind, P. Monica ; Elmståhl, Sölve LU and Lind, Lars (2023) In Environment International 181.
Abstract

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals that have been linked to increased cholesterol levels and thus may have a role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objectives: To investigate associations between PFAS exposure and incident CVD (a combined CVD end-point consisting of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or heart failure) in two independent population-based cohorts in Sweden. In addition, we performed a meta-analysis also including results from previous studies. Methods: In 2,278 subjects aged 45–75 years from the EpiHealth study, the risk of incident CVD in relation to relative plasma levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and... (More)

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals that have been linked to increased cholesterol levels and thus may have a role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objectives: To investigate associations between PFAS exposure and incident CVD (a combined CVD end-point consisting of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or heart failure) in two independent population-based cohorts in Sweden. In addition, we performed a meta-analysis also including results from previous studies. Methods: In 2,278 subjects aged 45–75 years from the EpiHealth study, the risk of incident CVD in relation to relative plasma levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was investigated. Associations between plasma levels of six PFAS and incident CVD were also examined in the PIVUS-study (n = 1,016, all aged 70 years). In addition, a meta-analysis was performed including three previous prospective studies, together with the results from the present study. Results: There were no overall statistically significant associations between levels of the different PFAS and incident CVD, neither in EpiHealth nor in PIVUS. However, there was a significant sex interaction for PFOS in EpiHealth (p = 0.008), and an inverse association could be seen only in men (Men, HR: 0.68, 95 % CI: 0.52, 0.89) (Women, HR: 1.13, 95 % CI: 0.82, 1.55). A meta-analysis of five independent studies regarding PFOA and incident CVD showed a risk ratio (RR) of 0.80 (CI: 0.66, 0.94) when high levels were compared to low levels. Conclusions: This longitudinal study using data from two population-based cohort studies in Sweden did not indicate any increased risk of incident CVD for moderately elevated PFAS levels. A meta-analysis of five independent cohort studies rather indicated a modest inverse association between PFOA levels and incident CVD, further supporting that increasing PFAS levels are not linked to an increased risk of CVD.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cardiovascular disease, Longitudinal, Metabolomics, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Subclinical markers
in
Environment International
volume
181
article number
108250
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:37832261
  • scopus:85173227305
ISSN
0160-4120
DOI
10.1016/j.envint.2023.108250
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9cac0840-33e8-4364-97da-55d65a8d4aa1
date added to LUP
2023-11-30 15:41:31
date last changed
2024-04-13 17:28:48
@article{9cac0840-33e8-4364-97da-55d65a8d4aa1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals that have been linked to increased cholesterol levels and thus may have a role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objectives: To investigate associations between PFAS exposure and incident CVD (a combined CVD end-point consisting of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or heart failure) in two independent population-based cohorts in Sweden. In addition, we performed a meta-analysis also including results from previous studies. Methods: In 2,278 subjects aged 45–75 years from the EpiHealth study, the risk of incident CVD in relation to relative plasma levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was investigated. Associations between plasma levels of six PFAS and incident CVD were also examined in the PIVUS-study (n = 1,016, all aged 70 years). In addition, a meta-analysis was performed including three previous prospective studies, together with the results from the present study. Results: There were no overall statistically significant associations between levels of the different PFAS and incident CVD, neither in EpiHealth nor in PIVUS. However, there was a significant sex interaction for PFOS in EpiHealth (p = 0.008), and an inverse association could be seen only in men (Men, HR: 0.68, 95 % CI: 0.52, 0.89) (Women, HR: 1.13, 95 % CI: 0.82, 1.55). A meta-analysis of five independent studies regarding PFOA and incident CVD showed a risk ratio (RR) of 0.80 (CI: 0.66, 0.94) when high levels were compared to low levels. Conclusions: This longitudinal study using data from two population-based cohort studies in Sweden did not indicate any increased risk of incident CVD for moderately elevated PFAS levels. A meta-analysis of five independent cohort studies rather indicated a modest inverse association between PFOA levels and incident CVD, further supporting that increasing PFAS levels are not linked to an increased risk of CVD.</p>}},
  author       = {{Dunder, Linda and Salihovic, Samira and Varotsis, Georgios and Lind, P. Monica and Elmståhl, Sölve and Lind, Lars}},
  issn         = {{0160-4120}},
  keywords     = {{Cardiovascular disease; Longitudinal; Metabolomics; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); Subclinical markers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environment International}},
  title        = {{Plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiovascular disease – Results from two independent population-based cohorts and a meta-analysis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108250}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envint.2023.108250}},
  volume       = {{181}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}