Fibrinogen and fibrinolytic variables in relation to anthropometry, lipids and blood pressure. The Northern Sweden Monica study

Abstract

Fibrinolysis is dependent upon plasminogen activator (tPA) activity while high fibrinogen levels increase the risk of thromboembolic events. From a cross-sectional population sample of 1558 men and women aged 25 to 64 years, plasma fibrinogen, tPA activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI) activity were determined using specific assays. Associations with body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), serum lipids and blood pressure were calculated with uni- and multivariate models where age and smoking were also introduced. In men age, truncal obesity, short height and low HDL cholesterol independently predicted fibrinogen (R² 0.20) while in women obesity per se, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking and age were predictors (R² 0.29). tPA activity was negatively associated with BMI and serum triglyceride levels and positively with age in both sexes. In men diastolic blood pressure (R² 0.22) and in women WHR further independently predicted low fibrinolytic activity. HDL was associated with greater fibrinolysis in women (R² 0.15). Relationships with PAI-1 activity were essentially the reverse of tPA but stronger. Prospective interventional studies are needed to answer the question of causality.