Background
Cardiovasuclar and cerebrovascular diseases are serious health problems in Taiwan. Artery stenosis, an indicator of atherosclerosis, causes cardiovascular disease, such as stroke or myocardial infarction.
Fibrinogen is related to atherosclerosis and stroke and plays a role as an independent risk factor. But it is still a debate on its intervening effect and precipitating factors on atherosclerosis. The aims of this study are to explore the relationship between fibrinogen and atherosclerosis.
Materials and Methods
Two thousand participants from the second and the fourth cycles of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Two-township Study (CVDFACTS) were analyzed and incomplete data of questionnaire, anthropometric parameters, biochemical markers, and carotid ultrasound parameters were excluded.
Three study designs, cohort study, nested case-control study, case-control study with propensity score matching(PSM), were used and compared. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval were used to test the strength of correlation between fibrinogen and carotid intima-media thickness (Carotid IMT).
Results
Fibrinogen is higher in abnormal IMT than in normal IMT. Fibrinogen is an significant indicator of atherosclerosis. In addition, we find alcohol drinking may modify fibrinogen effect on atherosclerosis; alcohol drinkers with lower fibrinogen level are having lower hazard of atherosclerosis.
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Conclusions
Subjects with higher fibrinogen have higher hazard of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, alcohol drinking is a significant modifier. Therefore, moderate alcohol drinking in subjects with lower fibrinogen level may prevent coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
