Association of blood lead levels with mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Lin, JL; Lin-Tan, DT; Hsu, CW; Yen, TH; Chen, KH; Hsu, HH; Ho, TC; Hsu, KH

HERO ID

786097

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2011

Language

English

PMID

21435426

HERO ID 786097
In Press No
Year 2011
Title Association of blood lead levels with mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
Authors Lin, JL; Lin-Tan, DT; Hsu, CW; Yen, TH; Chen, KH; Hsu, HH; Ho, TC; Hsu, KH
Journal American Journal of Medicine
Volume 124
Issue 4
Page Numbers 350-358
Abstract BACKGROUND: The association between blood lead levels and mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis remains unclear. METHODS: A cross-sectional and 18-month prospective study included 927 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Baseline variables and blood lead levels were measured before hemodialysis and categorized as 3 equal groups: high (>12.64 μg/dL), middle (8.51-12.64 μg/dL), and low (<8.51 μg/dL). Mortality and cause of death were recoded for longitudinal analyses. RESULTS: At baseline, after related variables were adjusted, logarithmic transformation of blood lead level was negatively related to log ferritin and positively related to the vintage of hemodialysis and the percentage of urban area patients. By the end of the follow-up, 59 patients had died. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the high blood lead level group had greater mortality than the low blood lead level group (log-rank test, P<.001). After adjustment for potential variables, Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that by using the low blood lead level as the reference, high blood lead levels were associated with increased hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause (HR 4.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92-11.49; P=.003), cardiovascular-cause (HR 9.71; 95% CI, 2.11-23.26; P=.005), and infection-cause (HR 5.35; 95% CI, 1.38-20.83; P=.046) 18-month mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Moreover, there was a significant trend (P=.032) of HRs for all-cause mortality among the 3 study groups. CONCLUSION: High blood lead level is associated with increased HRs for all-cause, cardiovascular-cause, and infection-cause 18-month mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
Doi 10.1016/j.amjmed.2010.10.022
Pmid 21435426
Wosid WOS:000289563200018
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword blood lead levels; maintenance hemodialysis; mortality