Counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, cause-specific mortality and coronary heart disease: the NHANES-I epidemiologic follow-up study

R F Gillum; Michael E Mussolino; Jennifer H Madans

doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2004.08.009

Counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, cause-specific mortality and coronary heart disease: the NHANES-I epidemiologic follow-up study

Ann Epidemiol. 2005 Apr;15(4):266-71. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2004.08.009.

Authors

R F Gillum¹, Michael E Mussolino, Jennifer H Madans

Affiliation

¹ National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA.

PMID: 15780773
DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2004.08.009

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the association of elevated counts of white blood cell types with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and death.

Methods: Data were examined from the NHANES-I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study.

Results: Relative risks for death at ages 25 to 74 comparing the upper and lower tertiles of neutrophil count were: all causes 1.29 (95% CL, 1.14, 1.47), and cardiovascular causes 1.39 (95% CL, 1.15, 1.67) after adjusting for baseline risk factors.

Conclusions: The increased risk of CHD and death from all causes and cardiovascular diseases appeared to be only partially due to effects of smoking. No association was seen for lymphocytes or monocytes.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Cause of Death / trends*
Coronary Disease / blood*
Coronary Disease / mortality*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Leukocyte Count*
Lymphocyte Subsets*
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
United States / epidemiology