Abstract P098: Effects Of Occupational Radiation Exposure On The Prevalence Of Hypertension And Its Complications
Background: Advancement of fluoroscopy-assisted procedures in the field of medicine has led to an increase in the frequency of their use among cardiologists, radiologists and surgeons. The personal health risk involved with radiation exposure is of concern and has come under the limelight in recent times. In addition to other consequences, radiation has been linked to cardiovascular disease, but its significance is not well established. Methods: Self-reported demographic, social, occupational, and medical data was collected from board-certified cardiologists via an electronic survey. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: 1478 responses were collected from board-certified cardiologists; 85.4% were males, 79% were Caucasian and 66.1% were ≤65 yrs of age. 35.6% of respondents were interventional cardiologists and 16.4% were electrophysiologists. Of those who performed procedures, 92.2% wore lead apparel during all times of radiation exposure. Exposure hours, stratified by less or more than 20,000, correlated positively with the presence of hypertension, and remained significant when adjusted for common risk factors such as age, sex, race, DM, OSA, and alcohol/tobacco use (OR 1.63 CI 1.16 to 2.29, p = 0.005). Conclusion: This study captures self-reported data of just over 4% of cardiologists in the US, and demonstrates a positive correlation between hypertension and procedural radiation exposure hours even post-adjustment for traditional risk factors. As the use of fluoroscopy-assisted procedures continues to grow, further research is necessary to inform operators of the personal health risks of radiation exposure and drive progress in protective attire and risk mitigation strategies.