Cross-section analysis of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity within Kailuan study

Background Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, there is no related data on the association of baPWVwith coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP). We explored the baPWV in subjects withCWP and the associated risk factors. Methods Thiscase-control study included 1,007 male CWP cases without a history of stroke and coronary heart disease and 1,007 matched controls from the Kailuan cohort study. All of the participants underwent assessment for baPWV and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The cumulative silica dust exposure (work history linked to a job-exposure matrix) was estimated for the CWP cases. Results Compared with the controls, the CWP cases had higher baPWV (1762.0 ± 355 cm/s vs. 1718.6 ± 354 cm/s, P = 0.006) and a higher risk of increased baPWV (defined as more than the median baPWV of the population distribution; odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.83) after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Age ≥60 years, body mass index, heart rate, and hypertension were all significantly associated with increased baPWV in the CWP cases. Compared to non-CWP subjects without hypertension, the odds ratios for increased baPWV gradually increased (P for trend, 0.001) across the CWP subjects without hypertension (odds ratio 1.20, 95%confidence interval 0.90–1.61), subjects with hypertension alone (odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.95–3.30), and CWP subjects with hypertension (odds ratio 3.34, 95% confidence interval 2.56–4.37). We detected a significant positive exposure-response relationship between silica dust-exposure quartiles and increased baPWV in CWP cases (P for trend < 0.001). Conclusions For patients with CWP, increased baPWV was associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and long-term silica dust exposure.