Prospective Study of Hemostatic Factors and Incidence of Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract
Background Although hemostatic factors contribute to acute coronary syndromes and atherogenesis, few studies have prospectively evaluated the association between multiple hemostatic factors and coronary heart disease incidence. Methods and Results The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study recruited 14 477 adults from 45 to 64 years of age who were initially free of coronary heart disease. Coronary disease risk factors and several plasma hemostatic factors were measured, and incidence of coronary heart disease was ascertained during an average follow-up of 5.2 years. Age-, race-, and field center–adjusted relative risks of coronary heart disease were significantly elevated (P≤.05) per higher value of fibrinogen (relative risk: men, 1.76; women, 1.54), white blood cell count (men, 1.68; women, 2.23), factor VIII coagulant activity (women, 1.25), and von Willebrand factor antigen (men, 1.20; women, 1.18). Adjustment for other risk factors attenuated these associations for fibrinogen (adjusted relative ri...