RELATION OF FIBRINOGEN TO LIFE-STYLES AND TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN A WORKING POPULATION

Background. The association between fibrinogen and smoking behaviour, age, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate and plasma lipid profile, was assessed in a cohort of middle-aged working men. Methods. Seven hundred and forty five subjects were examined as part of a health intervention programme at the worksite. Nine subjects were excluded from the study because of prevalent diabetes, Correlates of plasma fibrinogen concentrations were evaluated through univariate and multivariate methods. Results. In multiple regression analysis fibrinogen correlated with age, smoking behaviour, apolipoprotein B (ape B) apolipoprotein A-l (ape A-l) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) levels, which together explained 11% of the variation in fibrinogen concentration. From this model, fibrinogen concentration was associated with an increase of 13.6 mg/dl for every 10 years' increase in age, 28.2 mg/dl if a person smoked, and 4.6 mg/dl and 3.8 mg/dl with a 20 mg/dl rise in respectively apo B and Lp(a). A 20 mg/dl increase in apo A-l concentrations was estimated to be associated with a 6.0 mg/dl lower fibrinogen level. Conclusion. The data indicate that both biochemical and lifestyle factors are related to the plasma fibrinogen concentration; these interactions may explain partly the relationship between fibrinogen and cardiovascular disease.