Wen Jun, Giri Mohan, Xu Li, Guo Shuliang
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 15;12(4):1543. doi: 10.3390/jcm12041543.
(1) Background: Heavy metals are widely used and dispersed in the environment and people's daily routines. Many studies have reported an association between heavy metal exposure and asthma. Blood eosinophils play a crucial role in the occurrence, progression, and treatment of asthma. However, there have thus far been few studies that aimed to explore the effects of heavy metal exposure on blood eosinophil counts in adults with asthma. Our study aims to discuss the association between metal exposure and blood eosinophil counts among asthmatic adults. (2) Methods: A total of 2026 asthmatic individuals were involved in our research from NHANES with metal exposure, blood eosinophils, and other covariates among the American population. A regression model, the XGBoost algorithm, and a generalized linear model (GAM) were used to explore the potential correlation. Furthermore, we conducted a stratified analysis to determine high-risk populations. (3) Results: The multivariate regression analysis indicated that concentrations of blood Pb (log per 1 mg/L; coefficient β, 25.39; = 0.010) were positively associated with blood eosinophil counts. However, the associations between blood cadmium, mercury, selenium, manganese, and blood eosinophil counts were not statistically significant. We used stratified analysis to determine the high-risk group regarding Pb exposure. Pb was identified as the most vital variable influencing blood eosinophils through the XGBoost algorithm. We also used GAM to observe the linear relationship between the blood Pb concentrations and blood eosinophil counts. (4) Conclusions: The study demonstrated that blood Pb was positively correlated with blood eosinophil counts among asthmatic adults. We suggested that long-time Pb exposure as a risk factor might be correlated with the immune system disorder of asthmatic adults and affect the development, exacerbation, and treatment of asthma.
(1) 背景：重金属在环境及人们的日常生活中广泛使用和散布。许多研究报告了重金属暴露与哮喘之间的关联。血液嗜酸性粒细胞在哮喘的发生、发展及治疗中起关键作用。然而，迄今为止，很少有研究旨在探讨重金属暴露对成年哮喘患者血液嗜酸性粒细胞计数的影响。我们的研究旨在探讨哮喘成年患者中金属暴露与血液嗜酸性粒细胞计数之间的关联。(2) 方法：我们从美国国家健康与营养检查调查（NHANES）中纳入了2026名有金属暴露、血液嗜酸性粒细胞及其他协变量的哮喘个体参与研究。使用回归模型、XGBoost算法和广义线性模型（GAM）来探讨潜在的相关性。此外，我们进行了分层分析以确定高危人群。(3) 结果：多变量回归分析表明，血液铅浓度（每1 mg/L的对数；系数β，25.39；P = 0.010）与血液嗜酸性粒细胞计数呈正相关。然而，血液镉、汞、硒、锰与血液嗜酸性粒细胞计数之间的关联无统计学意义。我们通过分层分析确定了铅暴露的高危组。通过XGBoost算法确定铅是影响血液嗜酸性粒细胞的最重要变量。我们还使用GAM观察血液铅浓度与血液嗜酸性粒细胞计数之间的线性关系。(4) 结论：该研究表明，哮喘成年患者中血液铅与血液嗜酸性粒细胞计数呈正相关。我们认为，长期铅暴露作为一个危险因素可能与哮喘成年患者的免疫系统紊乱相关，并影响哮喘的发生、加重及治疗。
