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Age, cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease as determinants of platelet function in men. A
1Department of Cardiology, Eppendorf University Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
Insights
Age significantly impacts platelet aggregation in healthy individuals, but not in those with coronary heart disease. Cardiovascular risk factors like smoking and high cholesterol showed minimal effect on platelet function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Platelet Physiology
Background:
- Older age, cardiovascular risk factors, and arteriosclerosis are linked to stimulated platelet function.
- The relative importance of these factors in determining platelet function requires evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the influence of age, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular risk factors on platelet function.
- To compare platelet aggregability between healthy subjects and patients with coronary heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional multivariate study involving 191 men (113 healthy, 78 with coronary heart disease).
- Platelet aggregability assessed using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen as inducers.
- Multivariate analysis of variance and stepwise multiple linear regression used.
Main Results:
- In healthy subjects, platelet aggregability increased significantly with age.
- Platelet function in patients with coronary heart disease was not age-dependent.
- Smoking and hypercholesterolemia did not significantly affect platelet function in either group.
- Increased systolic blood pressure showed a minor inhibitory effect on ADP-induced aggregation.
- Patients with coronary heart disease exhibited enhanced platelet aggregation and increased thromboxane formation compared to healthy subjects.
Conclusions:
- Age is a major determinant of platelet function in healthy individuals.
- Coronary heart disease itself, rather than traditional risk factors, significantly alters platelet function.
- Age and coronary heart disease status are key determinants of platelet function, while smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension have minimal impact.
Abstract:
Older age, the cardiovascular risk factors and arteriosclerosis have been reported to be associated with stimulated platelet function. To evaluate the relative importance of these factors in determining platelet function, a cross-sectional multivariate study in 191 men, 113 healthy subjects and 78 patients with angiographically documented coronary heart disease, was performed. In healthy subjects, stepwise multiple linear regression identified age to be a major determinant of platelet aggregability. After induction with both ADP and collagen the platelet aggregatory response markedly increased with age. In the patients, platelet function was not age dependent. In multivariate analysis of variance, neither smoking status nor hypercholesterolemia (greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl) were determinants of platelet function in either group. An increase in systolic blood pressure was associated with slightly more inhibited ADP induced aggregation in both healthy subjects and patients with coronary heart disease. In patients compared to healthy subjects, aggregation after induction with ADP and collagen was markedly enhanced and the in vitro formation of thromboxane after collagen stimulation increased. Thus, by multivariate analysis, age and the presence or absence of coronary heart disease were found to be major determinants of platelet function. In contrast, the cardiovascular risk factors smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension were associated with only minor or no alterations of platelet function.