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Leukocyte count as a predictor of the severity ischaemic heart disease as evaluated by coronary angiography
A Amaro1, J R Gonzalez-Juanatey, C Iglesias
1Cardiology Department, Hospital Xeral de Galicia, University of Santiago, School of Medicine, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Insights
Elevated white blood cell counts are linked to higher coronary heart disease risk and severity. This study found increased white blood cells correlate with disease progression and poorer survival in men.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Increased white blood cell count is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD).
- The specific relationship between white blood cell count and CHD progression and mortality requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between white blood cell count and the 5-year incidence of coronary heart disease mortality.
- To determine the correlation of white blood cell count with coronary heart disease severity and survival outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A study of 152 men without recent myocardial infarction or infection.
- Coronary arteriography was used to assess coronary heart disease severity (Gensini's Score, number of stenotic vessels).
- White blood cell count was analyzed for correlation with disease severity and mortality using statistical methods, including stepwise logistic regression.
Main Results:
- White blood cell count positively correlated with Gensini's Score (r = 0.45, p < 0.01).
- Patients with three-vessel disease had significantly higher white blood cell counts than those with one or two-vessel disease (p < 0.05).
- Deceased patients had significantly higher total leukocyte counts than survivors (p < 0.05), and white blood cell count was an independent predictor of Gensini's Score (r = 0.42, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Increased white blood cell count is associated with the initiation and progression of coronary heart disease.
- Elevated white blood cell counts predict more severe coronary heart disease and are linked to reduced survival time.
- White blood cell count serves as a significant independent predictor for coronary heart disease severity.
Abstract:
Increased white blood cell count has been reported associated with increase risk of coronary heart disease. We studied the relationship of white blood cell count to the 5 year incidence of coronary heart disease mortality in 152 men, without myocardial infarction or infection in the 6 months prior to the study. The coronary heart disease was determined by coronary arteriography study in all patients. None was treated by revascularization procedures (surgical or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). The severity of coronary heart disease was assessed by Gensini's Score and number of main coronary arteries with significant stenosis. The white blood cell count showed a positive correlation with Gensini's Score (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), and was significantly higher in the patients with three vessels disease (one vessel = 7084 +/- 1679 leukocytes/mm3; two vessels = 7768 +/- 1860 leukocytes/mm3; three vessels = 8174 +/- 2016 leukocytes/mm3; p < 0.05). The patients who died differed significantly from the survivors as regards total leukocyte count (8309 +/- 2271 against 7548 +/- 1702 cells/mm3; p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis, using a stepwise logistic regression, identified the white blood cell count as the more strong independent predictive variable for Gensini's Score (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). We conclude that, in our experience, increased white blood cell count may contribute to the initiation and progression of the coronary heart disease, and was associated with a shorter subsequent survival time.