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Leukocyte count and cardiovascular risk factors
1National Center for Health Statistics, Office of Analysis and Epidemiology, Hyattsville, MD 20782.
Journal of the National Medical Association
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Leukocyte count is linked to cardiovascular risk factors like hemoglobin and pulse rate, but these associations explain little of its variation. Further research should account for these factors when studying cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Growing evidence suggests leukocyte count is a significant cardiovascular risk factor.
- Understanding factors associated with leukocyte count is crucial for cardiovascular disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between leukocyte count and various cardiovascular risk factors.
- To identify specific demographic and clinical variables related to leukocyte count in a large population sample.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 5586 participants in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I).
- Utilized multiple linear regression to identify associations between leukocyte count and other risk factors, stratified by sex and smoking status.
Main Results:
- Hemoglobin concentration and height were associated with leukocyte count in white male nonsmokers.
- In white male smokers, hemoglobin, daily cigarette consumption, and pulse rate showed associations.
- White female nonsmokers had associations with age, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, height, and uric acid.
- White female smokers showed associations with hemoglobin, daily cigarette consumption, pulse rate, and height.
- Overall, the identified associated variables explained only 8% of the variation in leukocyte count.
Conclusions:
- Leukocyte count is influenced by several factors including hemoglobin, pulse rate, and smoking status, but these explain a small proportion of its variability.
- Future cardiovascular disease studies should control for hemoglobin concentration and pulse rate, alongside traditional risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.