Radiation dose- and sex-dependent cardiovascular mortality in residents of contaminated areas after the Chornobyl NPP accident, 1988-2010 observation period

Probl Radiac Med Radiobiol. 2013:(18):50-8.
[Article in English, Ukrainian]

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the circulatory system disease death rates for people living in areas contaminated after the Chornobyl accident. Epidemiological estimation covered the post-accident period (1988-2010) and was focused on the relationship between death rates and doses accumulated over 1986-2010 or sex of survivors aged under 60 at the time of the accident.

Materials and methods: We used data from the State Registry of Ukraine on persons affected by the Chornobyl accident. Residents of contaminated areas were grouped into the two cohorts according to cumulative dose values. Cohort 1 numbered 155,592 people (86,787 females and 68,805 males), their radiation doses were 5.6-20.99 mSv; cohort 2 totaled 98,830 people (52,640 females and 46,190 males) with radiation doses 21.00-50.99 mSv. Mean age (X ± δ) of inhabitants of contaminated areas at the time of the accident (April 26, 1986) was 29.5 ± 23.2 years (30.6 ± 22.3 for women and 28.3 ± 23.2 for men) in the cohort 1, and 28.7 ± 17.3 years (29.8 ± 17.7 and 27.5 ± 16.2 respectively) in the cohort 2). These cohorts were subdivided by sex (males and females).

Results: Significantly higher (ID per 103 person-years is 8.08 ± 0.10) cardiovascular mortality was revealed among members of the cohort 2 vs. cohort 1 (ID per 103 person-years is 6.29 ± 0.06). Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in both sex groups of the cohort 2 is higher (ID per 103 person-years is 6.80 ± 0.12 in women and 9.43 ± 0.15 - in men) than that of the cohort 1 (ID per 103 person-years is 5.34 ± 0.08 in women, 7.37 ± 0.10 - in men). Whatever accumulated doses the mortality from circulatory diseases was significantly higher in men vs. women.

Conclusion: Cardiovascular mortality in population of radiation-contaminated territories depends on the integral radiation exposure and gender. Death rates are clearly higher (p<0.05) in persons having more radiation doses vs. those exposed to less ones. Mortality is significantly higher in males vs. females despite integral radiation doses values. The coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, arterial hypertension, heart diseases, diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries) were the main causes of death.

Meta doslidzhennja. Epidemiologichne ocinjuvannja rivnja smertnosti vid hvorob systemy krovoobigu meshkanciv radioaktyvno zabrudnenyh terytorij unaslidok avarii' na ChAES provedeno u pisljaavarijnomu periodi (1988–2010) dlja vstanovlennja zalezhnosti rivnja smertnosti vid nakopychenyh doz sumarnogo radiacijnogo oprominennja za 1986–2010 roky ta stati postrazhdalyh vikom do 60 rokiv na moment Chornobyl's'koi' katastrofy. Materialy ta metody doslidzhennja. Zalezhno vid parametriv nakopychenyh doz sumarnogo radiacijnogo oprominennja meshkanci radioaktyvno zabrudnenyh terytorij stratyfikovani na dvi kogorty: osoby z dozoju oprominennja 5,6–20,99 mZv (86 787 zhinok, 68 805 cholovikiv) ta z 21,00–50,99 mZv (52 640 zhinok, 46 190 cholovikiv). Rezul'taty doslidzhennja. Za roky sposterezhennja vyjavlena dostovirno vyshha smertnist' vid hvorob systemy krovoobigu v osib drugoi' kogorty porivnjano z osobamy pershoi' kogorty (ID na 103 ljudyno-rokiv stanovyt' 8,08±0,10 i 6,29±0,06, vidpovidno). U zhinok i cholovikiv drugoi' kogorty smertnist' vid hvorob sercja i sudyn vyshhe (ID na 103 ljudyno-rokiv u zhinok stanovyt' 6,80±0,12, u cholovikiv – 9,43±0,15), nizh u zhinok i cholovikiv pershoi' kogorty (ID na 103 ljudyno-rokiv u zhinok stanovyt' 5,34±0,08, u cholovikiv – 7,37±0,10). U cholovikiv smertnist' vid hvorob systemy krovoobigu dostovirno vyshha, nizh u zhinok, nezalezhno vid parametriv nakopychenyh doz sumarnogo radiacijnogo oprominennja. Vysnovky. Smertnist' vid hvorob systemy krovoobigu meshkanciv radioaktyvno zabrudnenyh terytorij zalezhyt' vid doz sumarnogo radiacijnogo oprominennja ta stati. Pro ce svidchyt' dostovirno (r<0,05) vyshhyj riven' smertnosti u osib z vyshhymy dozamy oprominennja nizh u osib z menshymy dozamy. U cholovikiv nezalezhno vid parametriv doz sumarnogo radiacijnogo oprominennja, smertnist' dostovirno vyshha porivnjano zi smertnistju u zhinok. Osnovnymy prychynamy smertnosti vid hvorob systemy krovoobigu u doslidzhuvanyh je ishemichna hvoroba sercja, cerebrovaskuljarni hvoroby, gipertonichna hvoroba, hvoroby sercja, hvoroby arterij, arteriol ta kapiljariv.

Keywords: accumulated dose; cardiovascular mortality; contaminated area; inhabitants; sex.

MeSH terms

  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / classification
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality*
  • Chernobyl Nuclear Accident*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases
  • Male
  • Radiation Dosage*
  • Radiation Monitoring*
  • Radioactive Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Sex Factors
  • Ukraine

Substances

  • Radioactive Pollutants