Some literature indicates an association between exposure to cadmium and lead and the presence of emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which are the two primary components of COPD. Understanding whether there is a potential association between cadmium and lead exposure and higher mortality rates in individuals with COPD could provide profound insights into the long-term effects of these two metal exposures on human health.

This study included 2024 patients with COPD in the US from the NHANES from 1999 through 2016 who were followed up to 2019. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to calculate HRs and 95 % CIs for all-cause mortality in relation to blood cadmium and lead concentrations. Plotting Kaplan-Meier curves and Restricted cubic spline curves to visualize results. Furthermore, stratified and sensitivity analyses were conducted.

After multivariate adjustment, blood cadmium and blood lead concentrations were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Compared with the first tertile, the HRs of all-cause mortality associated with the blood cadmium concentration were 1.74 (95 % CI, 1.22–2.49) in the second tertile and 1.89 (95 % CI, 1.31–2.72) in the third tertile. The HRs of all-cause mortality associated with the blood lead concentration were 1.13 (95 % CI, 0.84–1.51) in the second tertile and 1.43 (95 % CI, 1.05–1.93) in the third tertile.

This study found that increased blood cadmium and blood lead concentrations were associated with increased all-cause mortality in COPD patients. Reducing cadmium and lead exposure could potentially mitigate mortality risk in these individuals. More prospective studies are needed in the future to demonstrate our findings.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Heavy metals

Cadmium

Lead

COPD

Mortality

The original datasets can be found in the online repository, please see the https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm for more details.

© 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.