Inorganic Arsenic Exposure is not Associated with Type-2 Diabetes Prevalence in Cycle 2 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey

Introduction Inorganic arsenic and its metabolites are considered dangerous to human health. Although several studies have reported associations between low-level arsenic exposure and diabetes mellitus in the United States and Mexico, this association has not been studied in the Canadian population. We evaluated the association between arsenic exposure, as measured by total arsenic concentration in urine, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 3151 adult participants in Cycle 1 (2007–2009) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Methods All participants were tested to determine blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin. Urine analysis was also performed to measure total arsenic. In addition, participants answered a detailed questionnaire about their lifestyle and medical history. We assessed the association between urinary arsenic levels and T2D and prediabetes using multivariate logistic regression while adjusting for potential confounders. Results Total urinary arsenic concentration was positively associated with the prevalence of T2D and prediabetes: adjusted odds ratios were 1.81 (95% CI: 1.12–2.95) and 2.04 (95% CI: 1.03–4.05), respectively, when comparing the highest (fourth) urinary arsenic concentration quartile with the lowest (first) quartile. Total urinary arsenic was also associated with glycated hemoglobin levels in people with untreated diabetes. Conclusion We found significant associations between arsenic exposure and the prevalence of T2D and prediabetes in the Canadian population. Causal inference is limited due to the cross-sectional design of the study and the absence of long-term exposure assessment.

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Metabolic syndrome and chronic disease

Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada ◽

10.24095/hpcdp.34.1.06 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 36-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

DP Rao ◽

S Dai ◽

R Lagacé ◽

M Krewski

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Risk Markers ◽

Health Measures ◽

Incidence Estimate ◽

Canadian Health ◽

Relevant Risk Factor ◽

Canadian Health Measures Survey

Introduction Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of risk markers that appear to promote the development of chronic disease. We examined the burden of MetS in Canada through its current and projected association with chronic disease. Methods We used measures from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007–2009 to identify the prevalence of MetS in Canadian adults and examine associations between sociodemographic factors and major chronic diseases. We estimated the projected cumulative incidence of diabetes and percent risk of a fatal cardiovascular event using the Diabetes Population Risk Tool (DPoRT) and Framingham algorithms. Results After adjusting for age, we found that 14.9% of Canadian adults had MetS. Rates were similar in both sexes, but higher in those who are non-Caucasian or overweight or obese (p $lt; .001 for all three). The importance of MetS for public health was demonstrated by its significant association with chronic disease relative to the general population, particularly for diagnosed (11.2% vs. 3.4%) and undiagnosed (6.0% vs. 1.1%) type 2 diabetes. The ten-year incidence estimate for diabetes and mean percent risk of a fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) event were higher in those with MetS compared to those without (18.0% vs. 7.1% for diabetes, and 4.1% vs. 0.8% for CVD). Conclusion MetS is prevalent in Canadian adults and a high proportion of individuals with MetS have diagnosed or undiagnosed chronic conditions. Projection estimates for the incidence of chronic disease associated with MetS demonstrate higher rates in individuals with this condition. Thus, MetS may be a relevant risk factor in the development of chronic disease.

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