Fibrinogen in relation to personal history of prevalent hypertension, diabetes, stroke, intermittent claudication, coronary heart disease, and family history: the Scottish Heart Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relations of plasma fibrinogen to family history of premature heart disease, personal history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, and to presence of intermittent claudication.


METHODS
Random population survey across 22 local government districts in Scotland.


METHODS
10,359 men and women aged 40 to 59 years. Plasma fibrinogen was measured in 8824.


METHODS
Plasma fibrinogen concentration.


RESULTS
Persons with a family history of heart disease or a personal history of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, or presence of intermittent claudication all had higher plasma fibrinogen concentrations than those without. When compared with participants without cardiovascular or related disease (men: 2.27 (SE = 0.01) g/l, n = 3367; women 2.34 (0.01) g/l, n = 3096), predefined cases of either myocardial infarction (men: 2.51 (0.02) g/l, n = 248; women: 2.63 (0.04) g/l, n = 72) or angina (men: 2.45 (0.02) g/l, n = 394; women: 2.50 (0.02) g/l, n = 398) had significantly higher plasma fibrinogen concentrations (p < 0.001). After adjustment for 10 other coronary risk factors, there was a noticeable linear trend in the odds ratios for myocardial infarction across all quartiles (quarters) of plasma fibrinogen concentrations in both sexes. Similarly, the risk of angina increased linearly with increasing fibrinogen concentrations, although the test for a linear trend was NS among women.


CONCLUSIONS
This large population study confirms that plasma fibrinogen is not only a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke, but it is also raised with family history of premature heart disease and with personal history of hypertension, diabetes, and presence of intermittent claudication.
Lee
A J
AJ
Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
Lowe
G D
GD
Woodward
M
M
Tunstall-Pedoe
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D005340:Fibrinogen