Blood cadmium and moderate-to-severe glomerular dysfunction in Korean adults: analysis of KNHANES 2005-2008 data

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between blood cadmium (Cd) and moderate-to-severe glomerular dysfunction in a Korean population using a representative sample.

A cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the association between blood Cd and glomerular dysfunction. Based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2008), individual blood Cd was measured in 2,992 adults, aged between 20 and 65.

After adjusting for survey years, age, sociodemographic factors, and health behaviors, the odds ratio for moderate-to-severe glomerular dysfunction (<60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.28-3.07) when comparing the highest with the lowest blood Cd quartile in Korean women. However, in Korean men, there was no association between blood Cd and moderate-to-severe glomerular dysfunction.

These findings support the consideration of Cd as a risk factor for glomerular dysfunction in the female population. Furthermore, environmental heavy metal monitoring and an institutional strategy should be implemented to reduce Cd exposure in the general population.