為探討砷致動脈粥狀硬化的毒性，本研究乃以烏腳病盛行地區居民缺血性心臟病盛行病例及其健康對照，探討缺血性心臟病與長期累積砷暴露及其他危險因子的相關，藉以推斷砷所扮演的角色。根據布袋鎮好美、復興、新民三里居民在民國八十二年二月至三月接受健康檢查及問卷調查的結果， 選出 78 名經靜止心電圖診斷患有缺血性心臟病的病例及384 名健康對照。研究結果顯示此地區缺血性心臟病之多重危險因子，除年齡、性別、高血壓、總膽固醇對高密度脂蛋白膽固醇比值、肥胖指數及喝酒習慣等已知危險因子之外，砷暴露指標被發現和缺血性心臟病的盛行率有顯著的劑量效應關係。與未曾暴露於含砷深井水者比較，累積砷暴露量以年． ppm 為單位， 暴露量為 0.1-14.9 和 15.0 以上者，其罹患缺血性心臟病的多變項調整化相對危險性分別為 1.6 和 3.6 倍。本研究結果顯示砷為烏腳病盛行地區缺血性心臟病的一個重要且獨立危險因子。

　　　　　Arsenic-induced atherogenicity has been well documented. Morbidity ofischemic heart disease was examined among residents in the blackfootdisease-endemic area in southwestern Taiwan to explore the relationship betweenlong-term arsenic exposure and ischemic heart disease. A total of 78 prevalentcases of electrocardiogram-diagnosed ischemic heart disease identified from acommunity-based surrey and 384 age-sex-matched healthy controls were included.Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significantassociation of ischemic heart disease with long-term arsenic exposure. Afteradjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ratio of totalcholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, andalcohol consumption, the odds ratio of developing ischemic heart disease was1.60 and 3.60 respectively, for those who had a cumulative arsenic exposure of0.1-14.9 and >=15.0 ppm-years compared with those who had no exposure to arsenicthrough drinking water. Arsenic is an important and independent risk factor forischemic heart disease in the blackfoot disease-endemic area.