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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke: A Nested Case–Control Study in Sweden

T. Schillemans, C. Donat-Vargas, Christian H. Lindh, U. de Faire, A. Wolk, K. Leander, A. Åkesson

Environmental Health Perspectives, 2022

631 participants · 30 citations

Abstract

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread and persistent pollutants that have been associated with elevated cholesterol levels. However, data on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is lacking. Objectives: We investigated the association of exposure to PFAS with risk of myocardial infarction and stroke and, subsidiary, with baseline blood lipids. Methods: This population-based nested case–control study included first incident myocardial infarction and stroke cases with matched controls from two Swedish cohorts: the Swedish Mammography Cohort-Clinical (SMC-C) and the Cohort of 60-year-olds (60YO). Baseline blood sampling occurred during 2003–2009 and 1997–1999 with follow-up through 2017 and 2014 for the SMC-C and the 60YO, respectively. Eight plasma PFAS concentrations were measured using targeted liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Five of these were quantifiable in both cohorts; individual values and their standardized sum were categorized into tertiles based on the controls. First incident myocardial infarction (n=345) and ischemic stroke (n=354) cases were ascertained via linkage to the National Inpatient Register and the Cause of Death Register. Controls were randomly selected from each cohort after matching for age, sex, and sample date. Baseline blood lipids were measured in plasma or serum after overnight fasting. Results: Among the 1,528 case–control subjects, the mean (standard deviation) age was 66 (7.7) y and…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 631 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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