Does sticky blood predict a sticky end? Associations of blood viscosity, haematocrit and fibrinogen with mortality in the West of Scotland

Woodward, M., Rumley, A., Tunstall-Pedoe, H. and Lowe, G.D.O. (2003) Does sticky blood predict a sticky end? Associations of blood viscosity, haematocrit and fibrinogen with mortality in the West of Scotland. British Journal of Haematology, 122(4), pp. 645-650. (doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04475.x)

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that blood viscosity and its major determinants (haematocrit, plasma viscosity and fibrinogen) are associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular events; however, their associations with mortality are not established. We therefore studied the associations of these variables with cardiovascular events and total mortality in 1238 men and women aged 25-64 years, followed for 13 years in the first North Glasgow MONICA (MONItoring CArdiovascular disease) survey and West of Scotland centres in the Scottish Heart Health Study. After adjustment for age and sex, increasing whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, haematocrit and fibrinogen (analysed by both von Clauss and heat precipitation assays) were significantly associated with mortality. Only the association for fibrinogen (von Clauss assay) remained significant after adjustment for major cardiovascular risk factors. We conclude that clottable fibrinogen may be independently associated with mortality. However, the significance of this association, and the extent to which viscosity is associated with mortality, remain to be established in larger studies and meta-analyses.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rumley, Dr Ann and Lowe, Professor Gordon and Woodward, Professor Mark
• Authors: Woodward, M., Rumley, A., Tunstall-Pedoe, H., and Lowe, G.D.O.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: British Journal of Haematology
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
• ISSN: 0007-1048
• Copyright Holders: © Blackwell Publishing
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Haematology 122(4):645-650
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher