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Fibrinogen, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and outcomes in two United States cohorts

Authors Valvi, Mannino D, Müllerová H , Tal-Singer 

Received 12 January 2012

Accepted for publication 26 January 2012

Published 7 March 2012 Volume 2012:7 Pages 173—182

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S29892

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Deepa Valvi1, David M Mannino1,2, Hana Müllerova3, Ruth Tal-Singer4

1Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington, KY, USA; 2Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA; 3GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Worldwide Epidemiology, Stockley Park, Middlesex, UK; 4GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Respiratory Therapy Area Unit, King of Prussia, PA, USA

Background: Fibrinogen is a marker of systemic inflammation and may be important in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methods: We used baseline data from Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and Cardiovascular Health Studies to determine the relation between fibrinogen levels and COPD and to examine how fibrinogen levels at baseline affected outcomes of death, development of COPD, lung function decline, and COPD-hospitalizations.
Results: Our study sample included 20,192 subjects, of whom 2995 died during the follow-up period. The mean fibrinogen level was 307.6 mg/dL and 10% of the sample had levels >393.0 mg/dL. Subjects with Stage 3 or 4 COPD were more likely to have a fibrinogen level >393.0 mg/dL (odds ratio 2.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79–2.95). In the longitudinal adjusted models, fibrinogen levels >393 mg/dL predicted mortality (hazards ratio 1.54, 95% CI: 1.39–1.70), COPD-related hospitalization (hazards ratio 1.45, 95% CI: 1.27–1.67), and incident Stage 2 COPD (odds ratio 1.36, 95% CI: 1.07–1.74). Similar findings were seen with continuous fibrinogen levels.
Conclusion: In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities/Cardiovascular Health Studies cohort data, higher fibrinogen levels are predictors of mortality, COPD-related hospitalizations, and incident Stage 2 COPD.

Keywords: COPD, fibrinogen, epidemiology, mortality, hospitalization

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