Background: Interventional cardiologists and other personnel working in high-volume cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab) are exposed to significant doses of ionizing radiation which may promote earlier onset of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of cellular aging, is inversely associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Aim: To evaluate the effects of chronic low-dose exposure to ionizing radiation on LTL in staff working in Cath Lab
Methods: A group of 139 Cath Lab staff (90 males; 46±8 years) and 71 unexposed controls (29 males; 46±10years) were enrolled in the study. Cath Lab personnel included 82 interventional cardiologists (68 males; 49±8 years) and 57 nurses (22 males; 42±6 years) who were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation for 14.0±8.0 years (range 3–46 years). LTL analysis was assessed by quantitative Real-Time PCR of genomic DNA extracted from leukocytes.
Results: The relative telomere length (T/S) ratio was significantly reduced in Cath Lab personnel compared to controls (0.98±0.2 vs 1.1±0.4, p=0.0049).
LTL decreased in association with age for both exposed (r= -0.182, p=0.03) and controls (r= -0.292, p=0.01). Women had longer LTL compared with men only in controls (p=0.04). In multivariate-adjusted regression model, age (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.1, p=0.01) and cath lab exposure (OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.4-5.5, p=0.004) emerged as significant and independent risk predictors for lower LTL tertiles.
Figure 1
Conclusions: Leukocyte telomere length is shortened in staff working in cath lab, suggesting evidence of early biological aging and vascular risk.
