Blood cadmium and volume of uterine fibroids in premenopausal women.
10.1186/s40557-017-0178-8
- Author:
Shinhee YE
1
;
Hye Won CHUNG
;
Kyungah JEONG
;
Yeon Ah SUNG
;
Hyejin LEE
;
So Yun PARK
;
Hyunjoo KIM
;
Eun Hee HA
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea. eunheeha@ewha.ac.kr.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Heavy metals;
Uterine fibroids;
Premenopausal women
- MeSH:
Cadmium*;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Female;
Humans;
Leiomyoma*;
Linear Models;
Logistic Models;
Metals;
Metals, Heavy;
Seoul;
Ultrasonography;
Women's Health
- From:Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2017;29(1):22-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A number of studies have found associations between heavy metals and uterine fibroids, but the results are inconsistent. Here, we conducted this research to demonstrate the relationships between blood heavy metal concentrations and uterine fibroid volume as well as the rate of uterine fibroid presence. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we collected data from 308 premenopausal women aged 30–49 years in Seoul; uterine fibroids are ascertained by past history of myomectomy and pelvic ultrasonography. In the analytic phase, we first analyzed the presence of the fibroids and the concentrations of heavy metals via logistic regression. In subgroup analysis, we used simple and multiple linear regression analyses to examine the associations between heavy metals and uterine fibroid volume. RESULTS: There was no connection between the heavy metal concentrations and the presence of uterine fibroids, but the odds of women having fibroids were higher with three particular metals. In subgroup analysis, the association between blood cadmium concentrations and uterine fibroid volume was statistically significant (adjusted beta coefficient = 2.22, 95% confidential interval: 0.06–4.37). In contrast, blood mercury and lead concentrations were not significantly associated with uterine fibroid volume. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are the first that we know to report the association of blood cadmium concentrations with the volume of uterine fibroids. We expect that our findings will be used as evidence for supporting policies to improve premenopausal Korean women's health.
