Association of radiation exposure and blood lipid derived indices with hypertension risk in radiation workers

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Industrial radiation exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of hypertension compared to medical radiation exposure among radiation workers (OR 2.003).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Hypertension (n=3032). Intervention: Industrial radiation exposure vs. Medical radiation exposure. Primary outcome: Prevalent hypertension (OR 2.003, 95% CI 1.596-2.516, p=<0.05).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Industrial radiation exposure is associated with an approximately two-fold increased risk of hypertension compared to medical radiation exposure among radiation workers, with lipid profiles playing a mediating role. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the associations between occupational radiation exposure, blood lipid parameters, and hypertension risk, and to evaluate the potential mediating role of lipid indices.

Ruihua Ma; Yi Wang; Jiali Chen; Jie Gao; Lina Yan; Xia Gao

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1870426

June 26, 2026Frontiers in Public HealthOpen Access

Association of radiation exposure and blood lipid derived indices with hypertension risk in radiation workers

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Industrial radiation exposure is linked to a ~2-fold higher risk of hypertension versus medical exposure.

OR 2.003
95% CI 1.596-2.516
P<0.05
n=3,032

Figures

Why the study?

To explore the relationships between occupational radiation exposure, serum lipid levels, and hypertension, and evaluate whether lipid parameters play an intermediate role.

Does occupational radiation exposure and elevated lipid indices increase the risk of hypertension in radiation workers?

Key Points

To examine the associations between occupational radiation exposure, blood lipid parameters, and hypertension risk, and to evaluate the potential mediating role of lipid indices.
Conducted a cross-sectional study (N=2,548) and a retrospective cohort study (N=484) using physical examination records from a medical center in Shijiazhuang, China between October 2021 and March 2025.
Assessed cumulative occupational radiation exposure using surrogate metrics including radiation working years, job category (medical vs. industrial), and examination type.
Analyzed associations and mediation using multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic splines, mediation analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression, and ROC curves.
Radiation working years, belonging to the high working-year group, and industrial radiation exposure were significant risk factors for hypertension (all p < 0.05).
Mediation analysis indicated that total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C mediated the positive association between long working years and hypertension, while HDL-C mediated an inverse association for working years and industrial exposure.
In cohort analysis, elevated baseline triglycerides, FBG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and NHHR increased incident hypertension risk, whereas higher HDL-C was protective; FBG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C demonstrated the strongest predictive performance, notably in males and overweight individuals.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=3,032)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does occupational radiation exposure and elevated lipid indices increase the risk of hypertension in radiation workers?

P

Population

3,032 radiation workers without prior hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or hyperglycemia, evaluated for the association between occupational radiation exposure, lipid profiles, and hypertension risk.

E

Exposure

Occupational radiation exposure (assessed by working years, job category [industrial vs. medical], and examination type) and baseline lipid indices (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, FBG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, NHHR).

C

Comparator

Lower occupational radiation exposure (shorter working years, medical radiation) and normal baseline lipid indices.

O

Outcome

Prevalent hypertension (cross-sectional study) and incident hypertension (cohort study), defined as SBP ≥ 140 mmHg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg.

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 2.003 (95% CI 1.596–2.516)

p-value: p=<0.05

Prolonged occupational radiation exposure and industrial radiation are associated with an increased risk of hypertension, which is partially mediated by dyslipidemia.

Limitations

Lack of individual accurate radiation dose data, relying on working years as a surrogate.
Retrospective design with potential residual confounding from unmeasured lifestyle factors.
Exclusion of participants with chronic diseases may have led to healthy participant bias.
Single-center enrollment restricts the generalizability of the findings.
Lack of detailed information on specific job types, protective measures, and medication use.
No individual thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) dose data collected, relying on surrogate indicators like working years
Cross-sectional design limits the establishment of causal temporal relationships

Implication

May link prolonged radiation work to hypertension via lipids in workers; leaves open causal pathways for prospective validation.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationships between occupational radiation exposure, serum lipid levels and hypertension, and to assess the potential intermediate role of lipid parameters in the relevant association. Methods: A cross-sectional study (2,548 subjects) and a retrospective cohort study (484 subjects) were conducted among radiation workers who underwent physical examinations at a medical center in Shijiazhuang from October 2021 to March 2025. In the cross-sectional study, multivariate Logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) and mediation analysis were used to explore the association between radiation exposure and hypertension, as well as the mediating role of lipid parameters. In the cohort study, Cox proportional hazards regression, Kaplan-Meier curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, stratified analysis and sensitivity analysis were applied to evaluate the association and predictive performance of baseline lipid indices for incident hypertension. Mediation analysis indicated that TC, TG and LDL-C might mediate the positive association between long working years and hypertension, whereas HDL-C mediated the inverse association of working years and industrial radiation with hypertension. The cohort analysis revealed that elevated baseline TG, FBG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and NHHR increased the risk of incident hypertension, while elevated HDL-C decreased such risk; FBG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C showed the best predictive performance; these associations were more prominent in males and overweight individuals. Conclusion: Prolonged radiation working years and industrial radiation exposure are associated with an increased risk of hypertension in radiation workers, and lipid profiles may play a mediating role. FBG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and NHHR are superior to conventional lipid indices in predicting hypertension. Male and overweight radiation workers are key targets for hypertension prevention and control.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Ma et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Hypertension (n=3,032). Industrial radiation exposure vs. Medical radiation exposure was evaluated on Prevalent hypertension (OR 2.003, 95% CI 1.596-2.516, p=<0.05). Industrial radiation exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of hypertension compared to medical radiation exposure among radiation workers (OR 2.003).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a6ba18a1e51ef7293b3d0c1 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1870426

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Association of radiation exposure and blood lipid derived indices with hypertension risk in radiation workers

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Association of radiation exposure and blood lipid derived indices with hypertension risk in radiation workers

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading