Leukocyte counts and cerebrovascular disease

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Hematology

Background:

• Elevated total leukocyte count is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
• The specific predictive value of leukocyte counts for different cerebrovascular events requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between total leukocyte count and the incidence of cerebral infarction (CI) and cerebral hemorrhage (CH).
• To identify specific leukocyte cell types that predict cerebrovascular events.
• To explore potential differences in risk prediction based on age.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large Japanese cohort study with biennial examination data.
• Statistical modeling to assess the predictive value of total leukocyte count and specific leukocyte subsets for CI and CH incidence.
• Adjustment for potential confounders including age, sex, and blood pressure.

Main Results:

• Elevated total leukocyte count significantly predicted subsequent CI incidence (p = 0.001) independently of age, sex, and blood pressure.
• Neutrophil count emerged as a significant predictor (p = 0.0006) of CI, with no significant predictive role detected for other leukocyte types.
• A potential inverse association was observed between elevated leukocyte count and CH risk, with lymphocyte count showing a nearly significant negative association (p = 0.07).
• The relative risk of CI associated with elevated leukocyte counts may be higher in individuals under 65 years of age.

Conclusions:

• Total leukocyte count, particularly neutrophil count, is a significant predictor of cerebral infarction in the Japanese population.
• The findings suggest a potential protective role of elevated leukocyte counts against cerebral hemorrhage.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations and to explore the impact of smoking habits.