title: Longitudinal study on white blood cell count and the incidence of metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many studies have revealed that white blood cell count (WBC) is related to insulin resistance which is a central mechanism of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, few cohort studies have examined the role of WBC in the development of MetS. We hypothesized that WBC is associated with the future development of MetS, and investigated the longitudinal incidence of MetS in healthy workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  WBC was measured in 5,073 workers (mean age 42.5 years) without MetS at baseline. The incidence of MetS was monitored over 7 years of follow-up, in relation to quartiles of WBC. During the follow-up, 925 participants were diagnosed as MetS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of MetS was increased in participants with higher WBC: the rates of incidence of MetS were 22.6, 32.9, 42.9, and 57.5 per 1,000 person-years of follow-up in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of WBC, respectively. After adjustments for confounding factors, the adjusted hazards ratio (95% confidence interval) for MetS was 1.00 (reference), 1.22 (0.98 to 1.51), 1.52 (1.24 to 1.87), and 1.66 (1.35 to 2.04) through the quartiles of WBC, respectively, (p <0.001). This relationship was consistent among current smokers and never smokers, and among male and female genders, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBC is useful in predicting the future development of MetS which leads to atherosclerotic diseases.
authors: YAMAHA Health Care Center, Japan. k-altair@nifty.com
authors: Keiichi
authors: K
authors: Odagiri
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Uehara
authors: Isagi
authors: I
authors: Mizuta
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Chinori
authors: C
authors: Kurata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000639:trends; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000639:trends; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000639:trends*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000639:trends