Abstract P071: Moderate Exposure to Inorganic Arsenic in Drinking Water is Associated with Elevated Pulse Pressure: Results from Chihuahua, Mexico

Background: Though levels of arsenic u003e100 μg/L in drinking water have been consistently associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), evidence of an association at lower levels of exposure is more inconsistent. We used data from a cohort from Chihuahua Mexico to examine whether relatively low levels of arsenic in drinking water were associated with elevated pulse pressure, a marker linked to arterial stiffening and CVD risk. Methods: We used concentrations of arsenic in household drinking water from 931 adults not taking hypertensive medication to examine the association between water arsenic categories as low as 25-50 μg/L and mean increases in systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure (systolic - diastolic pressure). We also examined the association between water arsenic categories and elevated pulse pressure, defined as u003e70 mm Hg. Associations between arsenic exposure and blood pressure measures were obtained from multivariable linear or logistic regression models that adjusted for age, ...