Plasma fibrinogen and lung function: the CARDIA Study.
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that fibrinogen, as a marker of chronic inflammation, is inversely associated with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) in healthy persons.


METHODS
The CARDIA cohort started in 1985 and included black and white men and women, aged 18-30, from the general population. Spirometry testing conducted at years 5 and 10 [FVC, FEV(1), and their ratio (FEV(1)/FVC)] was studied relative to plasma fibrinogen levels measured at year 5 (cross-sectional n = 4,040) and at year 7 (longitudinal n = 3,001), controlling for race, sex, age, height, smoking, asthma, body mass index, physical activity, birth control pill use, and alcohol intake.


RESULTS
In cross-sectional analyses, FVC at year 5 was lower by 166 ml (95% confidence interval 116-216 ml) in the highest vs lowest year 5 fibrinogen quartile. At year 10, holding year 5 FVC and change in fibrinogen (year 7-year 5) constant, the difference in FVC between the highest and the lowest year 5 fibrinogen quartiles widened by 67 ml (95% CI 31-103 ml). The corresponding differences for FEV(1) were 166 ml (95% CI 146-253 ml) at year 5 and 45 ml (95% CI 11-80 ml) widening by year 10. The FEV(1)/FVC ratio was unrelated to plasma fibrinogen.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that fibrinogen, possibly as a marker for chronic low-grade inflammation, is associated with modest deterioration of lung function in healthy young adults.
Thyagarajan
Bharat
B
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55454, USA.
Jacobs
David R
DR
Apostol
George G
GG
Smith
Lewis J
LJ
Lewis
Cora E
CE
Williams
O Dale
OD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014797:Vital Capacity
D015415:Biomarkers; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005340:Fibrinogen