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Relationships of inflammatory and haemostatic markers with social class: Results from a population-based study of older men

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Sheena Ramsay

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Abstract

Haemostatic and inflammatory markers have been hypothesised to mediate the relationship of social class and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated whether a range of inflammatory/haemostatic markers are associated with social class independent of chronic diseases and behavioural risk factors in a population-based sample of 2682 British men aged 60-79 without a physician diagnosis of CVD, diabetes or musculoskeletal disease requiring anti-inflammatory medications. Men in lower social classes had higher mean levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, white blood cell count, von Willebrand factor (vWF), factor VIII, activated protein C (APC) resistance, plasma viscosity, fibrin D-dimer and platelet count, compared to higher social class groups; but not of tissue plasminogen activator antigen, haematocrit or activated partial prothrombin time. After adjustment for behavioural risk factors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity and body mass), the associations of social class with vWF, factor VIII, APC resistance, plasma viscosity, and platelet count though weakened, remained statistically significant, while those of other markers were considerably attenuated. In this study of older men without CVD, the social gradient in inflammatory and haemostatic markers was substantially explained by behavioural risk factors. The effect of socio-economic gradient on the factor VIII-vWF complex, APC resistance, plasma viscosity and platelet count merits further study. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Ramsay S, Lowe GDO, Whincup PH, Rumley A, Morris RW, Wannamethee SG

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Atherosclerosis

Year: 2008

Volume: 197

Issue: 2

Pages: 654-661

Print publication date: 01/04/2008

Online publication date: 28/03/2007

ISSN (print): 0021-9150

ISSN (electronic): 1879-1484

Publisher: Elsevier Ireland

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.02.022

DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.02.022

PubMed id: 17395187

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