title: Inflammatory and thrombotic blood markers and walking-related disability in men and women with and without peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether higher circulating levels of thrombotic and inflammatory markers are associated with greater disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 346 men and women with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and 203 without PAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Disability measures were the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) distance, speed, and stair-climbing scores and the 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) physical functioning score. The SF-36 and WIQ are scored on a 0 to 100 scale (100=best).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In persons with PAD, higher D-dimer levels were associated with lower WIQ speed scores (P<.001), lower stair-climbing scores (P<.04), and poorer SF-36 physical functioning scores (P<.01), adjusting for known and potential confounders. In participants without PAD, higher D-dimer levels were associated with lower WIQ distance scores (P<.03), lower speed scores (P<.05), and poorer SF-36 physical functioning scores (P<.02). Higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were associated with lower WIQ distance (P<.02) and speed scores (P<.001) in persons without PAD. Most of these associations were attenuated after additional adjustment for objectively measured functional limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher circulating D-dimer and hsCRP levels are associated with greater disability in walking and physical functioning in individuals with and without PAD. Physiological changes that result in walking disability may mediate these associations.
authors.affiliation: Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N. St. Clair, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. mdm608@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guralnik
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Kiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ridker
authors.forename: Cheeling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Criqui
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Lloyd M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Sarah I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Oskin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol