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Lymphocyte cell counts in middle age are positively associated with subsequent all-cause and cardiovascular mortality

Lymphocyte cell counts in middle age are positively associated with subsequent all-cause and cardiovascular mortality
Lymphocyte cell counts in middle age are positively associated with subsequent all-cause and cardiovascular mortality
Background: There is an association between higher white blood cell counts and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. However, little is known about the prognostic significance of circulating lymphocyte and lymphocyte subset numbers.

Aims: The present study examined the association between T-, CD4-, CD8- and B-cell numbers, and the CD4:CD8 ratio, and all-cause and CVD mortality.

Methods: Lymphocyte and lymphocyte subset numbers were measured by flow cytometry in a cohort of 4256 male middle-aged Vietnam-era US veterans. Mortality was tracked for 15 years and cause of death was determined from death certificates.

Results: In fully adjusted survival analyses, high circulating T-cells numbers were associated with increased risk of both all-cause [hazard ratio (HR)?=?1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–2.66] and cardiovascular (HR?=?3.57, 95% CI 1.53–8.33) mortality. The former association appeared to reflect an effect for high CD8-cells numbers, the latter an effect for high CD4-cell numbers. For all-cause mortality, a high CD4:CD8 ratio was protective (HR?=?0.58, 95% CI 0.41–0.81). Cardiovascular mortality was also predicted by high B-cells numbers (HR?=?1.87, 95% CI 1.10–3.17).

Conclusion: Circulating lymphocyte and lymphocyte subset numbers may have substantial prognostic significance for both all-cause and CVD mortality.
1460-2725
319-324
Phillips, A.C.
873973d2-7aa6-461a-bba8-95ddc0c317d8
Carroll, D.
5768ff5c-aa0b-49ff-ba36-3cf02eded0b8
Gale, C.R.
5bb2abb3-7b53-42d6-8aa7-817e193140c8
Drayson, M.
920ca3f3-f3bf-4476-86bd-2a3489ea5f79
Batty, G.D.
bf322937-2cfb-4174-b5cb-dc016f0d0b8a
Phillips, A.C.
873973d2-7aa6-461a-bba8-95ddc0c317d8
Carroll, D.
5768ff5c-aa0b-49ff-ba36-3cf02eded0b8
Gale, C.R.
5bb2abb3-7b53-42d6-8aa7-817e193140c8
Drayson, M.
920ca3f3-f3bf-4476-86bd-2a3489ea5f79
Batty, G.D.
bf322937-2cfb-4174-b5cb-dc016f0d0b8a

Phillips, A.C., Carroll, D., Gale, C.R., Drayson, M. and Batty, G.D. (2011) Lymphocyte cell counts in middle age are positively associated with subsequent all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 104 (4), 319-324. (doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcq199). (PMID:21051481)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: There is an association between higher white blood cell counts and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. However, little is known about the prognostic significance of circulating lymphocyte and lymphocyte subset numbers.

Aims: The present study examined the association between T-, CD4-, CD8- and B-cell numbers, and the CD4:CD8 ratio, and all-cause and CVD mortality.

Methods: Lymphocyte and lymphocyte subset numbers were measured by flow cytometry in a cohort of 4256 male middle-aged Vietnam-era US veterans. Mortality was tracked for 15 years and cause of death was determined from death certificates.

Results: In fully adjusted survival analyses, high circulating T-cells numbers were associated with increased risk of both all-cause [hazard ratio (HR)?=?1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–2.66] and cardiovascular (HR?=?3.57, 95% CI 1.53–8.33) mortality. The former association appeared to reflect an effect for high CD8-cells numbers, the latter an effect for high CD4-cell numbers. For all-cause mortality, a high CD4:CD8 ratio was protective (HR?=?0.58, 95% CI 0.41–0.81). Cardiovascular mortality was also predicted by high B-cells numbers (HR?=?1.87, 95% CI 1.10–3.17).

Conclusion: Circulating lymphocyte and lymphocyte subset numbers may have substantial prognostic significance for both all-cause and CVD mortality.

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More information

Published date: April 2011

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 178169
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/178169
ISSN: 1460-2725
PURE UUID: 9fe2655c-8e0c-4da2-9cf1-96fa6954afcc
ORCID for C.R. Gale: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3361-8638

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Date deposited: 23 Mar 2011 10:24
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:49

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Contributors

Author: A.C. Phillips
Author: D. Carroll
Author: C.R. Gale ORCID iD
Author: M. Drayson
Author: G.D. Batty

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