Exposure to volatile organic compounds ups hypertension risk

A recent study has found epidemiological evidence pointing to an association between environmental pollutants and hypertension. This finding calls attention to the contribution of nonoccupational volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the risk of hypertension in the general population.

The analysis included 4,156 participants with 16 VOCs. In multivariable logistic regression, ln-transformed urine levels of N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-L-cysteine (CYMA; odds ratio [OR], 1.54, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.18–2.02), N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-L-cysteine (3HPMA; OR, 1.33, 95 percent CI, 1.03–1.74), N-acetyl-S-(4-hydroxy-2-butenyl)-L-cysteine (MHBMA3; OR, 1.68, 95 percent CI, 1.29–2.20), and N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine + N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (PHEMA; OR, 1.55, 95 percent CI, 1.19–2.00) correlated with a higher risk of hypertension.

There was a nonlinear association and a threshold effect seen between In (N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxyproply)-L-cysteine or 2HPMA) and hypertension. When In(2HPMA) was at least 5.29, a significantly positive association existed between In(2HPMA) and hypertension.

In a subanalysis, a more pronounced association between hypertension risk and VOC exposure was observed among older individuals (age ≥60 years), those who were overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m²), and those who consume alcohol.

This study used data from 4,156 participants aged 20–79 years in the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The authors assessed exposure to VOC through measurements of urinary VOC metabolites and identified 16 VOCs for analysis. They explored the link between VOCs and the risk of hypertension through weighted logistic regression and weighted linear regression models.

Potential nonlinear associations between VOCs and hypertension risk were examined through generalized additive models. Finally, subgroup analyses and intergroup interaction tests were also conducted.