Abstract MP73: The Association of Urinary Metals With Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and All-Cause Mortality in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background: Environmental exposure to metals is widespread yet preventable and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints, although evidence from prospective studies with racial and ethnic diversity is limited. Objective: We assessed the prospective association of urinary metals with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and CVD and all-cause mortality in a diverse population of adults from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Methods: We included 6,638 MESA participants (mean (SD) age 62.1(10.2) years, 53% female, 39% non-Hispanic white, 27% non-Hispanic Black, 22% Hispanic/Latino, 12% Chinese). Urinary non-essential metals (cadmium, tungsten, and uranium), and essential metals (cobalt, copper, and zinc) were assessed at baseline (2000-2001). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate adjusted (table footnote) hazard ratios (HR) for the association between urine metals with incident CHD, CVD, and all-cause mortality through 2019. Results: Over 17.7 years median follow up (IQR: 12.4, 18.5), 749 (11%) participants developed CHD, 1,162 (17%) developed CVD, and 1,844 (28%) died. In the models adjusted by sociodemographic and behavioral factors (Table 1, [Model 1]), one IQR increase in urinary cadmium, tungsten, cobalt, copper, and zinc at baseline was significantly associated with higher risk of incident CHD, incident CVD and all-cause mortality. Uranium levels were significantly associated with all-cause mortality and incident CVD, but not CHD. The magnitude of the association was attenuated when adjusting the models for clinical risk factors (Table 1, [Model 2]). A linear trend was identified for cadmium and copper and all endpoints. Conclusion: Our findings among a large and ethnically diverse US population support that metal exposure is associated with incident CVD and premature mortality. These findings can inform the development of novel preventive strategies to improve cardiovascular health.