Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (61)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Phillips, A. N.
Right arrow Articles by Shaper, A. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Phillips, A. N.
Right arrow Articles by Shaper, A. G.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 136, No. 1: 59-70
Copyright © 1992 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health


research-article

Leukocyte Count and Risk of Major Coronary Heart Disease Events

Andrew N. Phillips1 2,, James D. Neaton3, Derek G. Cook1, Richard H. Grimm4 and A. Gerald Shaper1

1Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine London NW3 2PF, England
3Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
4Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN

Reprint request to Dr. Andrew N. Philips, Academic Department of Genito–Urinary Medicine, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, James Pringle House, 73–75 Charlotte Street, London W1N 8AA, England.

The association between leukocyte count and subsequent risk of major coronary heart disease events was examined using data from three prospective cohort studies— two from the United States and one from Great Britain. A total of 28, 181 middle-aged men were followed for 6–12 years. A total of 1, 768 men had a nonfatal myocardial infarction or died of coronary heart disease. In all three cohorts, there was a positive, statistically significant relation between baseline leukocyte count and risk of subsequent major coronary heart disease events after adjustment for age, serum total cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure, and number of cigarettes smoked per day (relative odds = 1.32 (p < 0.0001), 1.15 (p = 0.0001), and 1.14 (p = 0.003), corresponding to a 2, 000/ mm3 difference in leukocyte count). The associations persisted when all nonsmokers (former smokers plus never smokers) and never smokers alone were considered and when those with evidence of preexisting coronary heart disease at baseline were excluded. Leukocyte count appears to be an indicator of a person's future risk of major coronary heart disease events.

blood cell count; coronary disease; leukocyte count; myocardial infarction; prospective studies


2Current address: Academic Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London W1N 8AA, England.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
M. Helfand, D. I. Buckley, M. Freeman, R. Fu, K. Rogers, C. Fleming, and L. L. Humphrey
Emerging Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease: A Summary of Systematic Reviews Conducted for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Ann Intern Med, October 6, 2009; 151(7): 496 - 507.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
J. P.H. van Wijk, E. J.P. de Koning, M. C. Cabezas, J. Joven, J. op't Roodt, T. J. Rabelink, and A. M. Hoepelman
Functional and Structural Markers of Atherosclerosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 21, 2006; 47(6): 1117 - 1123.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes and Vascular Disease ResearchHome page
A. M Carter
Inflammation, thrombosis and acute coronary syndromes
Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research, October 1, 2005; 2(3): 113 - 121.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
B. D. Horne, J. L. Anderson, J. M. John, A. Weaver, T. L. Bair, K. R. Jensen, D. G. Renlund, J. B. Muhlestein, and Intermountain Heart Collaborative (IHC) Study Grou
Which White Blood Cell Subtypes Predict Increased Cardiovascular Risk?
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 17, 2005; 45(10): 1638 - 1643.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
K. L. Margolis, J. E. Manson, P. Greenland, R. J. Rodabough, P. F. Bray, M. Safford, R. H. Grimm Jr, B. V. Howard, A. R. Assaf, R. Prentice, et al.
Leukocyte Count as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Postmenopausal Women: The Women's Health Initiative Observational Study
Arch Intern Med, March 14, 2005; 165(5): 500 - 508.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
M. Madjid, I. Awan, J. T. Willerson, and S. W. Casscells
Leukocyte count and coronary heart disease: Implications for risk assessment
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 16, 2004; 44(10): 1945 - 1956.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
A. Sajadieh, O. W. Nielsen, V. Rasmussen, H. O. Hein, S. Abedini, and J. F. Hansen
Increased heart rate and reduced heart-rate variability are associated with subclinical inflammation in middle-aged and elderly subjects with no apparent heart disease
Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2004; 25(5): 363 - 370.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
M. Haim, V. Boyko, U. Goldbourt, A. Battler, and S. Behar
Predictive Value of Elevated White Blood Cell Count in Patients With Preexisting Coronary Heart Disease: The Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention Study
Arch Intern Med, February 23, 2004; 164(4): 433 - 439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
G.D.O. Lowe, J. Danesh, S. Lewington, M. Walker, L. Lennon, A. Thomson, A. Rumley, and P.H. Whincup
Tissue plasminogen activator antigen and coronary heart disease: Prospective study and meta-analysis
Eur. Heart J., February 1, 2004; 25(3): 252 - 259.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Lipid Res.Home page
A. J. H. H. M. van Oostrom, T. P. Sijmonsma, C. Verseyden, E. H. J. M. Jansen, E. J. P. de Koning, T. J. Rabelink, and M. Castro Cabezas
Postprandial recruitment of neutrophils may contribute to endothelial dysfunction
J. Lipid Res., March 1, 2003; 44(3): 576 - 583.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
Y. Nemerson
A Simple Experiment and a Weakening Paradigm: The Contribution of Blood to Propensity for Thrombus Formation
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, September 1, 2002; 22(9): 1369 - 1369.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
R. Shurtz-Swirski, S. Sela, A. T. Herskovits, S. M. Shasha, G. Shapiro, L. Nasser, and B. Kristal
Involvement of Peripheral Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Diabetes Care, January 1, 2001; 24(1): 104 - 110.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
BMJHome page
J. Danesh, P. Whincup, M. Walker, L. Lennon, A. Thomson, P. Appleby, J R. Gallimore, and M. B Pepys
Low grade inflammation and coronary heart disease: prospective study and updated meta-analyses
BMJ, July 22, 2000; 321(7255): 199 - 204.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
JAMAHome page
J. Danesh, R. Collins, P. Appleby, and R. Peto
Association of Fibrinogen, C-reactive Protein, Albumin, or Leukocyte Count With Coronary Heart Disease: Meta-analyses of Prospective Studies
JAMA, May 13, 1998; 279(18): 1477 - 1482.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
M.P. Weijenberg, E.J.M. Feskens, and D. Kromhout
White Blood Cell Count and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Elderly Men
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, April 1, 1996; 16(4): 499 - 503.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
W. B. Kannel
Clinical Misconceptions Dispelled by Epidemiological Research
Circulation, December 1, 1995; 92(11): 3350 - 3360.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
G. Wannamethee, A. G. Shaper, P. W. Macfarlane, and M. Walker
Risk Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death in Middle-Aged British Men
Circulation, March 15, 1995; 91(6): 1749 - 1756.
[Abstract] [Full Text]



Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.