title: Airflow obstruction, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors in the AGES Reykjavik study.
abstract: Airflow limitation, i.e. reduced forced expiratory volume in 1-s (FEV1), is associated with increased prevalence of atherosclerosis, however, causal mechanisms remain elusive. The objective of the study was to determine if the association between airflow obstruction and markers of atherosclerosis is mediated by systemic inflammation.
  
  
  
  1154 subjects from the longitudinal AGES Reykjavik study were included. Population characteristics, systemic inflammation markers from blood (white blood cell counts (WBC) and level of C-reactive protein (CRP)) were compared between patients with and without airflow limitation defined by reduced FEV1 on spirometry. Atherosclerosis burden was quantified by measurements of coronary artery calcium, aortic arch and distal aortic calcification in addition to carotid intimal media thickness (CIMT).
  
  
  
  Subjects were split into four groups according to smoking status and whether airflow limitation was present. There was a higher overall burden of atherosclerosis in ever-smokers compared to never-smokers, and in individuals with airflow obstruction compared to individuals without airflow obstruction. After adjusting for population characteristics, Framingham cardiovascular risk factors and markers of systemic inflammation (WBC and CRP), there was a significantly increased aortic arch and distal aorta calcification and higher CIMT measurement in individuals with airflow obstruction compared to individuals without airflow obstruction. After adjusting for population characteristics, Framingham cardiovascular risk factors and markers of systemic inflammation (WBC and CRP), there was a significantly increased aortic arch and distal aorta calcification and higher CIMT measurement in individuals with airflow obstruction compared to individuals without airflow obstruction.
  
  
  
  Systemic inflammation (WBC and CRP) does not appear to mediate the association between airflow limitation and atherosclerosis. Only airflow limitation and not systemic inflammation (WBC and CRP) appears to be an independent predictor of atherosclerosis.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: ggudmund@landspitali.is.
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Gudmundsson
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Olof Birna
authors: OB
authors: Margretardottir
authors: Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors: Martin Ingi
authors: MI
authors: Sigurdsson
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, United States.
authors: Tamara B
authors: TB
authors: Harris
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, United States.
authors: Lenore J
authors: LJ
authors: Launer
authors: The Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors: Sigurdur
authors: S
authors: Sigurdsson
authors: The Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors: Orn
authors: O
authors: Olafsson
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; The Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors: Thor
authors: T
authors: Aspelund
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; The Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland.
authors: Vilmundur
authors: V
authors: Gudnason
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications*; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D007249:Inflammation; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular risk factors; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Systemic inflammation