Copper, biological aging and 10-year cardiovascular risk in 419 male welders
In 419 male welders in Wuhan, China, higher copper levels were associated with higher 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk; measured biological aging indices were associated with both copper and this risk and statistically mediated part of the copper–risk association. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Among 419 male welders, copper was associated with elevated 10-year ASCVD risk (odds ratio 1.051, 95% CI 1.017–1.085), persisting after adjustment for other metals. [1]
Accelerated biological aging indices were positively associated with 10-year ASCVD risk and with copper. [1]
Accelerated aging indices statistically mediated the copper–ASCVD association, with mediating proportions of 29.8% and 43.8%. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational study reported in an abstract
- Population / context
- 419 male welders in Wuhan, China, average age 42.77 years.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 15, 2026
Welders' metals and 10-year ASCVD risk
The abstract describes 419 male welders in Wuhan, China, with an average age of 42.77 years; 93 (22.2%) were in the high 10-year ASCVD risk group. Chromium, manganese, nickel, lead, copper and iron were measured. In generalized linear models, copper was associated with elevated 10-year ASCVD risk (odds ratio 1.051, 95% confidence interval 1.017–1.085, P = 0.003), and this association persisted after adjustment for the other metals. The abstract does not report how exposure was timed relative to risk assessment.
Supporting source [1]
Biological aging linked to copper and risk
Two biological aging indices were calculated: Klemera-Doubal method biological age and Phenotypic Age. Their accelerated forms were positively associated with 10-year ASCVD risk (KDM acceleration odds ratio 1.170, 95% CI 1.070–1.280; PhenoAge acceleration odds ratio 1.122, 95% CI 1.053–1.194). Copper was also positively associated with both indices (KDM acceleration β 1.888, 95% CI 1.130–2.646; PhenoAge acceleration β 4.552, 95% CI 3.406–5.698). These are associations in one sample, not evidence that copper causes aging or heart disease.
Supporting source [1]
Mediation estimates and lifestyle index in welders
The abstract reports that both accelerated aging indices significantly mediated the copper–ASCVD association, with mediating proportions of 29.8% (KDM) and 43.8% (PhenoAge). The authors also constructed a lifestyle index and suggest that a modifiable healthy lifestyle could decelerate aging and reduce 10-year ASCVD risk. The abstract does not report the lifestyle index's components, its results, or whether the mediation analysis supports causal pathways.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a cross-sectional-style analysis of 419 male welders in one Chinese city, so associations cannot establish causation, and the abstract does not report exposure timing, follow-up or how the lifestyle index was built or performed.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Luo Y, Dai X, Chen Z, Jiang J, Liu J, Fu X, Wang F, Li X. · europepmc.org · July 15, 2026