Thromb Haemost 2004; 91(04): 683-689
DOI: 10.1160/TH03-01-0014
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Association between obesity and a prothrombotic state: the Framingham Offspring Study

Guido A. Rosito
1   Hospital Clinicas, Porto Alegre, Brazil
,
Ralph B. D’Agostino
2   Boston University Mathematical and Statistical Department, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
,
Joseph Massaro
2   Boston University Mathematical and Statistical Department, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
,
Izabella Lipinska
3   Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Bosten, Massachusetts, USA
,
Murray A. Mittleman
3   Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Bosten, Massachusetts, USA
,
Patrice Sutherland
4   Framingham Heart Study
,
Peter W. F. Wilson
4   Framingham Heart Study
,
Daniel Levy
4   Framingham Heart Study
,
James E. Muller
5   Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts, USA
,
Geoffrey H. Tofler
6   Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
› Institutsangaben
Financial support: This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the American Heart Association (92011960) and the National Institutes of Health (RO1-HL-48157)
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Publikationsverlauf

Received 08. Januar 2004

Accepted after revision 20. Januar 2004

Publikationsdatum:
06. Dezember 2017 (online)

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Summary

Although obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, the mechanism has not been fully explained. Since thrombosis is a critical component of cardiovascular disease, we examined the relationship between obesity and hemostatic factors. We studied 3230 subjects (55% females, mean age 54 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease in cycle 5 of the Framingham Offspring Study. Obesity was assessed by body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. Fasting blood samples were obtained for fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) antigen, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen, factor VII antigen, von Willebrand factor (VWF), and plasma viscosity. Body mass index was directly associated with fibrinogen, factor VII, PAI-1 and tPA antigen in both men and women (p<0.001) and with VWF and viscosity in women. Similar associations were present between waist-to-hip ratio and the hemostatic factors. With minor exceptions for VWF and viscosity, all associations persisted after controlling for age, smoking, total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose level, blood pressure, and use of antihypertensive medication. The association between increased body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio and prothrombotic factors and impaired fibrinolysis suggests that obesity is a risk factor whose effect is mediated in part by a prothrombotic state.