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Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease: a 17-year follow-up study in Busselton

Colleen M O'Leary1, Matthew W Knuiman, Mark L Divitini

  • 1School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.

European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation : Official Journal of the European Society of Cardiology, Working Groups on Epidemiology & Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology
|August 5, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This study found little evidence that homocysteine levels independently predict coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke risk in individuals without pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The overall relationship was not significant after accounting for confounders.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular epidemiology
  • Biomarkers of cardiovascular risk

Background:

  • Elevated homocysteine levels have been investigated as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
  • Understanding the independent contribution of homocysteine to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively assess the relationship between serum homocysteine levels and the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
  • To determine if homocysteine is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • A case-cohort study design was employed with a 17-year follow-up period.
  • Serum homocysteine levels were measured from stored samples.
  • Proportional hazards regression models were utilized to calculate adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

  • No significant overall association was observed between homocysteine levels and cardiovascular disease risk after adjusting for known confounders.
  • In women, a significant relationship emerged when creatinine was removed from the multivariate model, suggesting potential confounding or interaction.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides limited support for a significant independent role of homocysteine in predicting the risk of CHD or stroke in individuals without prior cardiovascular disease.
  • Further research may be needed to clarify the role of homocysteine, especially in specific subgroups or when considering other biological factors.
Abstract

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