Multiple linear regression analysis of blood pressure, hypertrophy, calcium and cadmium in hypertensive and nonhypertensive states

High blood pressure causes heart disease and remains a major public health issue. This paper expands mathematically and mechanistically on environmental heavy metal exposure and heart disease. In rabbits, mean blood pressure was measured by direct puncture of the middle ear artery. Measurements of calcium and cadmium levels were made by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry in tissue from hypertensive and non-hypertensive rabbits. Relationships between blood pressure, hypertrophy, calcium and cadmium were tested using multiple regression analysis. Multiple linear relationships occurred showing the dependence of: high blood pressure on hypertrophy, calcium and cadmium; hypertrophy on calcium, cadmium and high blood pressure; and calcium on cadmium, high blood pressure and hypertrophy. These data provide insight into the mechanism of elevated blood pressure on heavy metal and calcium accumulation, and cardiac hypertrophy.