Correlation of hematologic factors to carotid intima-media thickness in men and women: a study of 2767 asymptomatic subjects of Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose: A correlation between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and blood cells has not been well documented. Studies of a possible relationship between blood cell components and left (Lt) and right (Rt) side CIMT in asymptomatic men and women in Taiwan have not been conducted previously. The study aims to correlate factors of complete blood cells (CBC) to CIMT for men and women.

Methods: Data collection from 2767 asymptomatic healthy checkup individuals, age 35-75, 1517 men and 1250 women, were separated into four groups: CIMTML (men's Lt), CIMTMR (men's Rt), CIMTWL (women's Lt), and CIMTWR (women's Rt) for analysis of CBC factors vs. CIMT. A cut-off point for each factor was examined for the existence of significant differences in CIMT for individuals among the four test groups who had abnormal CBC data.

Results: The regression equations of eight CBC factors vs. CIMT of four groups calculated as R2adj range were from 70.5% to 79.4%. Further comparison of CIMT in different groups by cut points of CBC factors showed significant differences in red blood cells (RBC) and platelets (PLT), but not in white blood cells (WBC).

Conclusion: Higher RBC, and lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were associated with lower CIMT in asymptomatic men in Taiwan. Further studies to confirm these differences are warranted.