White Blood Cell Count Associates with Peripheral Arterial Disease in a Chinese Community-based Population

Abstract

In ammatory processes play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic disease. However, the relationship between white blood cell (WBC) count and the risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is not well established especially in Chinese population. A total of 9113 Chinese subjects without acute in ammation from an atherosclerosis cohort were included in our analysis. Ankle brachial index (ABI) was measured using Omron BP-203RPEIII machine. PAD was de ned as ABI<0.9. Multivariate regression model was used to evaluate association of WBC count and PAD status. Mean (SD) WBC was 6.07±1.59×10 9 /L. Mean (SD) ABI was 1.10±0.09 and the prevalence of PAD was 2.4%. WBC count was signi cantly associated with PAD (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.16-1.34, P<0.001) with every 1×10 9 /L increase of WBC count. This relationship remained significant (OR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.10-1.28, P<0.001) after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, current smoking and drinking status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, history of stroke and coronary heart disease, antihypertensive agents, lipid- lowering agents, and hypoglycemic agents. Consistently, PAD ratio was also dose-dependent related to the quartiles of WBC count in multivariate regression model (OR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.05-2.64, P=0.032; OR=2.51, 95%CI: 1.61-3.92, P<0.001, for Q3 or Q4 vs Q1 group respectively). Elevated WBC count independently associates with high PAD prevalence in a Chinese community-based population, which supports the hypothesis that systemic in ammation acts a pivotal part in the etiology of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.