Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions

BACKGROUND: The objective was to calculate the prevalence of high blood pressure among lead-exposed welders and study its role in altering neurocognitive functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical epidemiological study included 30 lead-exposed welders and 30 controls. Hypertens...

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Main Author: Nadia Tigha-Bouaziz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Via Medica 2025-04-01
Series:Arterial Hypertension
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.viamedica.pl/arterial_hypertension/article/view/100184
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author Nadia Tigha-Bouaziz
author_facet Nadia Tigha-Bouaziz
author_sort Nadia Tigha-Bouaziz
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: The objective was to calculate the prevalence of high blood pressure among lead-exposed welders and study its role in altering neurocognitive functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical epidemiological study included 30 lead-exposed welders and 30 controls. Hypertension was assessed through a medical questionnaire and blood pressure measurement. Neurocognitive functions were evaluated using Euroquest, Profile of Mood States (POMS), and neurocognitive tests. We used T and Z tests, chi-square, relative risk, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The subjects were men with an average age of 42 years. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed (10% vs. 6.6%). The onset age of hypertension was 28 years for weldersvs. 38 years for controls. The risk of hypertension increased by 1.5 times, correlating with years of lead exposure (RR = 2). Adjustment for confounding factors confirmed the relationship with the duration of exposure. Hypertensive individuals showed more symptoms in Euroquest and POMS, with a significant decline in performance in neurobehavioral tests such as Digit Symbol and Digit span digit back visual retention (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to lead was found to increase blood pressure and constitute a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Lead exposure impairs cognitive functions, especially with increased blood pressure.
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spelling doaj-art-e7c5deaa203747b791d2ce6529693d632025-08-21T06:08:34ZengVia MedicaArterial Hypertension2449-61702449-61622025-04-0129Continuous Publishing10.5603/ah.100184Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functionsNadia Tigha-Bouaziz0Faculty of Medicine, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba, Algeria, AlgeriaBACKGROUND: The objective was to calculate the prevalence of high blood pressure among lead-exposed welders and study its role in altering neurocognitive functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical epidemiological study included 30 lead-exposed welders and 30 controls. Hypertension was assessed through a medical questionnaire and blood pressure measurement. Neurocognitive functions were evaluated using Euroquest, Profile of Mood States (POMS), and neurocognitive tests. We used T and Z tests, chi-square, relative risk, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The subjects were men with an average age of 42 years. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed (10% vs. 6.6%). The onset age of hypertension was 28 years for weldersvs. 38 years for controls. The risk of hypertension increased by 1.5 times, correlating with years of lead exposure (RR = 2). Adjustment for confounding factors confirmed the relationship with the duration of exposure. Hypertensive individuals showed more symptoms in Euroquest and POMS, with a significant decline in performance in neurobehavioral tests such as Digit Symbol and Digit span digit back visual retention (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to lead was found to increase blood pressure and constitute a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Lead exposure impairs cognitive functions, especially with increased blood pressure.https://journals.viamedica.pl/arterial_hypertension/article/view/100184leadoccupational exposurehypertensionneurocognitive function
spellingShingle Nadia Tigha-Bouaziz
Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
Arterial Hypertension
lead
occupational exposure
hypertension
neurocognitive function
title Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
title_full Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
title_fullStr Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
title_full_unstemmed Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
title_short Effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
title_sort effects of occupational exposure to lead on blood pressure and neurocognitive functions
topic lead
occupational exposure
hypertension
neurocognitive function
url https://journals.viamedica.pl/arterial_hypertension/article/view/100184
work_keys_str_mv AT nadiatighabouaziz effectsofoccupationalexposuretoleadonbloodpressureandneurocognitivefunctions