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Fibrinogen, viscosity and the 10-year incidence of ischaemic heart disease

P M Sweetnam1, H F Thomas, J W Yarnell

  • 1MRC Epidemiology Unit, Llandough Hospital, Penarth, U.K.

European Heart Journal
|December 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

High fibrinogen and blood viscosity are strong, independent predictors of long-term ischaemic heart disease risk in men. These factors significantly increase the likelihood of developing heart disease over time.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Epidemiology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease

Background:

  • Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
  • Identifying reliable predictors of IHD risk is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
  • Previous studies suggested roles for fibrinogen and blood viscosity, but long-term independent predictive power required further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the ten-year predictive value of fibrinogen and blood viscosity for ischaemic heart disease risk.
  • To determine if fibrinogen and viscosity are independent predictors of IHD after accounting for other cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized ten-year follow-up data from the prospective Caerphilly and Speedwell studies.
  • Included a representative sample of middle-aged males (n=4860).
  • Defined IHD morbidity and mortality using hospital records, ECGs, and death certificates; analyzed 603 incident events.

Main Results:

  • Elevated levels of fibrinogen and viscosity were associated with significantly increased IHD risk (relative odds 3.3 and 3.4, respectively).
  • After adjusting for major cardiovascular risk factors, both fibrinogen (OR 2.2) and viscosity (OR 2.3) remained significant independent predictors.
  • Joint analysis confirmed both factors as significant predictors (P < 0.01), with increasing IHD incidence observed with higher levels of either marker.

Conclusions:

  • Fibrinogen and blood viscosity are powerful, long-term, and independent predictors of ischaemic heart disease risk.
  • These hemorheological markers provide valuable prognostic information beyond traditional risk factors.
  • Findings underscore the importance of considering fibrinogen and viscosity in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Abstract

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