Pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in liquidators of Chernobyl disaster in the long term

«Radiation and Risk», 2016, vol. 25, No. 3, pp.73-85

DOI: 10.21870/0131-3878-2016-25-3-73-85

Authors

Meshkov N.A. – Head of Lab., MD, Prof. A.N. Sysin Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Health. Contacts: 10, s. 1, Pogodinskaya str., Moscow, Russia, 119121. Tel.: +7 (499) 246-23-82; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Abstract

The article reveals findings of a study into disease incidence among workers involved in cleanup of the disaster at Chernobyl NPP (the so-called liquidators), the state of their cardiorespiratory systems and their bodies’ ability to adapt. The study examined a group of 27 liquidators with an ave rage radiation dose of 205.9 mSv (95% CI: 117.8; 234.0); the reference group (RG) consisted of 17 men who had never been exposed to ionizing radiation. The groups were comparable in terms of age. When ranking diseases by incidence in the first group, research found that coronary artery disease (CAD) ranked first; cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) and essential hypertension (EH), second and third, respectively. In the RG, the top three were osteochondrosis, CAD and EH. The average age of liquidators suffering from these diseases was 8.4, 20.3 and 6.4 years lower than that of members of the RG, respectively. The group of liquidators showed high incidence of CAD (RR=2.6 and OR=19.3; p=0.001), CVD (RR=7.4 and OR=50.0; p=0.000) and EH (RR=1.5 and OR=3.2; p>0.05). 44% of liquidators were found to have hypokinetic type of central hemodynamics (RR=2.5; p<0.1); the other 56%, eukinetic [normal]. The group of liquidators had 23.8% more men with reduced reactivity of cardiovascular system (CVS) than the RG; 54.2% of them had bronchial obstruction (RR=3.1; p<0.05). The group of liquidators also had CVS dysregulation caused by sinoatrial node dysfunction: the number of men with sympathicotonia was 50% higher among liquidators than among members of the RG (р<0.05); the number of liquidators with normally functioning CVS was smaller by a factor of 2.3 (р<0.1). The group of liquidators had 1.3 times (p>0.05) more men with slower rate of aging, which indicated at higher pressure on their adaptation mechanisms.

Key words
cleanup of the disaster at Chernobyl NPP (liquidators), point prevalence, age, cardiorespiratory system, type of central hemodynamics, autonomic nervous system balance, bronchial obstruction, biological age, rate of aging.

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