Associations between Inflammatory Markers and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Middle-aged White, Japanese-American and Japanese Men: The ERA-JUMP Study
-
- Nagasawa Shin-ya
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Ohkubo Takayoshi
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine
-
- Masaki Kamal
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, and Kuakini Medical Center
-
- Barinas-Mitchell Emma
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
-
- Miura Katsuyuki
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science Center for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Seto ToddB.
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, and Kuakini Medical Center
-
- El-Saed Aiman
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
-
- Kadowaki Takashi
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Willcox Bradley J.
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, and Kuakini Medical Center
-
- Edmundowicz Daniel
- Department of Medicine, Temple University
-
- Kadota Aya
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science Center for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science Department of School Nursing and Health Education, Osaka Kyoiku University
-
- Evans Rhobert W.
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
-
- Kadowaki Sayaka
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Fujiyoshi Akira
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Hisamatsu Takashi
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science Center for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Bertolet Marianne H.
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
-
- Okamura Tomonori
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University
-
- Nakamura Yasuyuki
- Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Kyoto Women’s University
-
- Kuller Lewis H.
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
-
- Ueshima Hirotsugu
- Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science Center for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science
-
- Sekikawa Akira
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
Search this article
Description
Aim: To examine whether the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen are associated with biomarkers of atherosclerosis [carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and coronary artery calcification (CAC)] in the general male population, including Asians.<br>Methods: Population-based samples of 310 Japanese, 293 Japanese-American and 297 white men 40-49 years of age without clinical cardiovascular disease underwent measurement of IMT, CAC and the CRP and fibrinogen levels as well as other conventional risk factors using standardized methods. Statistical associations between the variables were evaluated using multiple linear or logistic regression models.<br>Results: The Japanese group had significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis than the Japanese-American and white groups (P-values all ＜0.001). The mean level of CRP was 0.66 vs. 1.11 and 1.47 mg/L, while that of fibrinogen was 255.0 vs. 313.0 and 291.5 mg/dl, respectively. In addition, the mean carotid IMT was 0.61 vs. 0.73 and 0.68 mm, while the mean prevalence of CAC was 11.6% vs. 32.1% and 26.3%, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) showed significant positive associations with both the CRP and fibrinogen levels. Although CRP showed a significant positive association with IMT in the Japanese men, this association became non-significant following adjustment for traditional risk factors or BMI. In all three populations, CRP was not found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of CAC. Similarly, fibrinogen did not exhibit a significant association with either IMT or the prevalence of CAC.<br>Conclusions: The associations between inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis may merely reflect the strong associations between BMI and the levels of inflammatory markers and incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in both Eastern and Western populations.
Journal
-
- Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
-
Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis 22 (6), 590-598, 2015
Japan Atherosclerosis Society