Potential role for organochlorine pesticides in the prevalence of peripheral arterial diseases in obese persons: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the association between organochlorine (OC) pesticides and the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).Methods and resultsThis study included 2032 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004), in which the ankle brachial index (ABI) and serum levels of OC pesticides (p,p′-DDE, trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, dieldrin, and β-HCH) were measured simultaneously. A diagnosis of PAD was determined on the basis of an ABI < 0.9. The obesity status was categorized as obese group (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) or non-obese group (BMI < 25 kg/m2). Compared with subjects without PAD, those with PAD had significantly higher lipid-standardized and wet-weight concentrations of OC pesticides. Obese subjects with PAD had significantly increased mean lipid-standardization value of p,p′-DDE (OR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.08-1.99), trans-nonachlor (OR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.10-2.56), oxychlordane (OR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.09-3.03), dieldrin (OR = 2.36; 95% CI, 1.69-3.31), and sums of all five pesticides (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.33). For non-obese group, increases in the levels of OC pesticides and their sums did not account for increased risk ratio of PAD.ConclusionOC pesticides are a potent risk factor for PAD. Additionally, obesity may modulate the association between OC pesticides and the development of PAD.