title: Using white blood cell counts to predict metabolic syndrome in the elderly: A combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has an important implication from a preventive medicine perspective as early recognition and intervention will reduce associated mortality and morbidity. To better identify patients at risk for developing MetS and cardiovascular disease, we conduct a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study to shed light on the elevated white blood cell (WBC) level in elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10,463 subjects were eligible for analysis. In the first stage of study, subjects were enrolled in the cross-sectional study to find out not only the correlation between WBC and MetS but also the optimal cut-off value of WBC with higher chances to have MetS. In the second stage of current study, subjects with MetS at baseline were excluded from the same study group, and performed a median 6.8-year longitudinal study to validate the optimal cut-off value of WBC predicting MetS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WBC is significantly higher in the group with than without MetS in both genders. All MetS components were associated with WBC in multivariate analysis except diastolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose. In the longitudinal study, WBC showed to be a good predictor of MetS in both genders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBC is a good marker to identify the high risk subjects having MetS in the current status or in the future. Elderly with a higher WBC and without any underlying chronic diseases should receive more attention on the potential to develop MetS.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Gerontic Technology and Service management, Nan Kai University of Technology, Nan Tou County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Defense Medical Center, Division of Clinical Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jin-Biou
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jiunn-Diann
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department and Institute of Life-Science, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: anthonypatho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yen-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Elderly; Longitudinal; Metabolic syndrome; White blood cell