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Leukocyte count and risk of major coronary heart disease events
A N Phillips1, J D Neaton, D G Cook
1Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, England.
Insights
Higher leukocyte counts in middle-aged men are linked to an increased risk of major coronary heart disease events. This finding suggests leukocyte count may serve as a valuable indicator for future cardiovascular risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for predicting CHD risk is crucial for preventive strategies.
- Previous research has suggested potential links between inflammation markers and cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline leukocyte count and the risk of major coronary heart disease events.
- To determine if leukocyte count is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events.
- To assess this association across different cohorts and smoking statuses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from three large prospective cohort studies (US and UK).
- Included 28,181 middle-aged men followed for 6-12 years.
- Analyzed the relationship between baseline leukocyte count and major CHD events (nonfatal myocardial infarction or CHD death), adjusting for key risk factors.
Main Results:
- A positive and statistically significant association was observed between higher leukocyte counts and increased risk of major CHD events across all cohorts.
- Relative odds for a 2,000/mm3 difference in leukocyte count ranged from 1.14 to 1.32 (p < 0.003).
- The association remained significant after excluding smokers and individuals with pre-existing CHD.
Conclusions:
- Elevated leukocyte count is a significant predictor of future major coronary heart disease events.
- Leukocyte count may serve as a valuable, independent biomarker for assessing cardiovascular risk.
- These findings support the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease.
Abstract:
The association between leukocyte count and subsequent risk of major coronary heart disease events was examined using data from three prospective cohort studies--two from the United States and one from Great Britain. A total of 28,181 middle-aged men were followed for 6-12 years. A total of 1,768 men had a nonfatal myocardial infarction or died of coronary heart disease. In all three cohorts, there was a positive, statistically significant relation between baseline leukocyte count and risk of subsequent major coronary heart disease events after adjustment for age, serum total cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure, and number of cigarettes smoked per day (relative odds = 1.32 (p less than 0.0001), 1.15 (p = 0.0001), and 1.14 (p = 0.003), corresponding to a 2,000/mm3 difference in leukocyte count). The associations persisted when all nonsmokers (former smokers plus never smokers) and never smokers alone were considered and when those with evidence of preexisting coronary heart disease at baseline were excluded. Leukocyte count appears to be an indicator of a person's future risk of major coronary heart disease events.