Inflammatory markers and onset of cardiovascular events: results from the Health ABC study.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of several inflammatory markers on the incidence of cardiovascular events in well-functioning older persons.


RESULTS
The subjects were 2225 participants 70 to 79 years old, without baseline cardiovascular disease, who were enrolled in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Incident coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and congestive heart failure (CHF) events were detected during an average follow-up of 3.6 years. Blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed. After adjustment for potential confounders, IL-6 was significantly associated with all outcomes (CHD events, per IL-6 SD increase: RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.48; stroke events, per IL-6 SD increase: RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.86; CHF events, per IL-6 SD increase: RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.12). TNF-alpha showed significant associations with CHD (per TNF-alpha SD increase: RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.43) and CHF (per TNF-alpha SD increase: RR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.30 to 1.95) events. CRP was significantly associated with CHF events (per CRP SD increase: RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.78). A composite summary indicator of inflammation showed a strong association with incident cardiovascular events, with an especially high risk if all 3 inflammatory markers were in the highest tertile.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that inflammatory markers are independent predictors of cardiovascular events in older persons.
Sticht Center on Aging, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Matteo
M
Cesari
Brenda W J H
BW
Penninx
Anne B
AB
Newman
Stephen B
SB
Kritchevsky
Barbara J
BJ
Nicklas
Kim
K
Sutton-Tyrrell
Susan M
SM
Rubin
Jingzhong
J
Ding
Eleanor M
EM
Simonsick
Tamara B
TB
Harris
Marco
M
Pahor
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein