A cross sectional study of anemia and iron deficiency as risk factors for arsenic-induced skin lesions in Bangladeshi women

Table 3 Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (95 % CI) of skin lesions for women exposed to arsenic (As) with anemia, inflammation, iron depletion, and iron depletion in the presence of inflammation

Reference group	Model 1^*		Model 2^†
Reference group	OR	95 % CI	OR	95 % CI
Drinking water As
Anemia
Hemoglobin < 120 g/L	2.87	(1.16, 7.11)	3.32	(1.29, 8.52)
Hemoglobin ≥ 120 g/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Inflammation
hs-CRP ≥10 mg/L	1.10	(0.36, 3.36)	1.11	(0.35, 3.52)
hs-CRP < 10 mg/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Iron depletion
Ferritin ≤ 12 μg/L	1.20	(0.51, 2.84)	1.09	(0.44, 2.71)
Ferritin > 12 μg/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Iron depletion w/inflammation
Ferritin < 50 μg/L and hs-CRP ≥ 10 mg/L	1.19	(0.54, 2.62)	1.03	(0.44, 2.39)
Ferritin ≥ 50 μg/L and hs-CRP < 10 mg/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Toenail As
Anemia
Hemoglobin < 120 g/L	2.86	(1.08, 7.62)	3.16	(1.17, 8.56)
Hemoglobin ≥ 120 g/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Inflammation
hs-CRP ≥10 mg/L	1.09	(0.33, 3.57)	1.03	(0.30, 3.49)
hs-CRP < 10 mg/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Iron depletion
Ferritin ≤ 12 μg/L	0.73	(0.30, 1.78)	0.74	(0.29, 1.88)
Ferritin > 12 μg/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-
Iron depletion w/inflammation
Ferritin < 50 μg/L and hs-CRP ≥10 mg/L	0.77	(0.36, 1.77)	0.72	(0.30, 1.75)
Ferritin ≥ 50 μg/L and hs-CRP <10 mg/L	Ref.	-	Ref.	-

^*Model 1 only adjusts for arsenic exposure
^†Model 2 adjusts for arsenic exposure, age, educational status, and body mass index

ISSN: 1471-2458