TBARS and cardiovascular disease in a population-based sample.
BACKGROUND
Oxygen radicals might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including atherosclerosis. Thiobarbituric acid reaction substances (TBARS), a biomarker of oxidative stress, have been proposed as a summary measure of total circulating oxidation. However, there is no strong indication that circulating levels of TBARS are increased in patients with atherosclerosis.


METHODS
We evaluated the relation between TBARS and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a cross-sectional random sample of white men and women from Buffalo, New York.


METHODS
Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk associated with high levels of TBARS. The area under the ROC curve was used to evaluate the discriminating power of TBARS.


RESULTS
After adjusting for age and gender, TBARS levels were significantly higher in those with prevalent CVD (OR= 1.73, 95% CI=1.32-2.38), compared to those without a CVD diagnosis. These OR were almost 50% higher after correcting for measurement error (ME) (OR=1.93, 95% CI=1.07-3.40). The area under the ROC curve was 0.69 (95% CI=0.62-0.77) and when corrected for ME reached 0.80 (95% CI=0.65-0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that elevated levels of TBARS were associated with increase risk of the prevalence of CVD, but this effect was no longer significant after adjusting for glucose.
Schisterman
E F
EF
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, New York, USA. Enrique.Schisterman@cshs.org
Faraggi
D
D
Browne
R
R
Freudenheim
J
J
Dorn
J
J
Muti
P
P
Armstrong
D
D
Reiser
B
B
Trevisan
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013858:Thiobarbiturates / Q000097:blood*
D005609:Free Radicals; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D013858:Thiobarbiturates