Diverse Cardiovascular Disease Risks Linked to PAH Metabolites

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with diverse risk factors contributing to its complexity. Despite advancements in understanding traditional risk factors, novel biomarkers remain inadequately explored for their roles in CVD risk assessment.

Method: This cross-sectional study utilized the PREVENT tool to analyze hydrocarbon metabolites from 500 participants. Inclusion criteria involved adults aged 30-70 years without existing cardiovascular conditions. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between specific metabolites and cardiovascular health outcomes.

Results: The study identified a substantial link between various PAH metabolites and CVD risk, with elevated levels of pyrene correlated with a 25% increase in the likelihood of developing hypertension (odds ratio 1.25, 95% CI 1.10-1.42, P=0.002). Other metabolites demonstrated similar associations, with adjusted risk differences noted across the cohort.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the potential of PAH metabolites as novel biomarkers for cardiovascular risk assessment, suggesting their inclusion in routine evaluations of cardiovascular health. However, limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the study and the need for longitudinal data to confirm these associations.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2025.125