@article {943, title = {Collaborative meta-analysis of individual participant data from observational studies of Lp-PLA2 and cardiovascular diseases.}, journal = {Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil}, volume = {14}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Feb}, pages = {3-11}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: A large number of observational epidemiological studies have reported generally positive associations between circulating mass and activity levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have been large enough to provide reliable estimates in different circumstances, such as in different subgroups (e.g., by age group, sex, or smoking status) or at different Lp-PLA2 levels. Moreover, most published studies have related disease risk only to baseline values of Lp-PLA2 markers (which can lead to substantial underestimation of any risk relationships because of within-person variability over time) and have used different approaches to adjustment for possible confounding factors.

OBJECTIVES: By combination of data from individual participants from all relevant observational studies in a systematic {\textquoteright}meta-analysis{\textquoteright}, with correction for regression dilution (using available data on serial measurements of Lp-PLA2), the Lp-PLA2 Studies Collaboration will aim to characterize more precisely than has previously been possible the strength and shape of the age and sex-specific associations of plasma Lp-PLA2 with coronary heart disease (and, where data are sufficient, with other vascular diseases, such as ischaemic stroke). It will also help to determine to what extent such associations are independent of possible confounding factors and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity among studies, such as those related to assay methods and study design. It is anticipated that the present collaboration will serve as a framework to investigate related questions on Lp-PLA2 and cardiovascular outcomes.

METHODS: A central database is being established containing data on circulating Lp-PLA2 values, sex and other potential confounding factors, age at baseline Lp-PLA2 measurement, age at event or at last follow-up, major vascular morbidity and cause-specific mortality. Information about any repeat measurements of Lp-PLA2 and potential confounding factors has been sought to allow adjustment for possible confounding and correction for regression dilution. The analyses will involve age-specific regression models. Synthesis of the available observational studies of Lp-PLA2 will yield information on a total of about 15 000 cardiovascular disease endpoints.

}, keywords = {1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase, Cardiovascular Diseases, Humans, Phospholipases A2}, issn = {1741-8267}, doi = {10.1097/01.hjr.0000239464.18509.f1}, author = {Ballantyne, C and Cushman, M and Psaty, B and Furberg, C and Khaw, K T and Sandhu, M and Oldgren, J and Rossi, G P and Maiolino, G and Cesari, M and Lenzini, L and James, S K and Rimm, E and Collins, R and Anderson, J and Koenig, W and Brenner, H and Rothenbacher, D and Berglund, G and Persson, M and Berger, P and Brilakis, E and McConnell, J P and Koenig, W and Sacco, R and Elkind, M and Talmud, P and Rimm, E and Cannon, C P and Packard, C and Barrett-Connor, E and Hofman, A and Kardys, I and Witteman, J C M and Criqui, M and Corsetti, J P and Rainwater, D L and Moss, A J and Robins, S and Bloomfield, H and Collins, D and Packard, C and Wassertheil-Smoller, S and Ridker, P and Ballantyne, C and Cannon, C P and Cushman, M and Danesh, J and Gu, D and Hofman, A and Nelson, J J and Thompson, S and Zalewski, A and Zariffa, N and Di Angelantonio, E and Kaptoge, S and Thompson, A and Thompson, S and Walker, M and Watson, S and Wood, A} } @article {984, title = {The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration: analysis of individual data on lipid, inflammatory and other markers in over 1.1 million participants in 104 prospective studies of cardiovascular diseases.}, journal = {Eur J Epidemiol}, volume = {22}, year = {2007}, month = {2007}, pages = {839-69}, abstract = {

Many long-term prospective studies have reported on associations of cardiovascular diseases with circulating lipid markers and/or inflammatory markers. Studies have not, however, generally been designed to provide reliable estimates under different circumstances and to correct for within-person variability. The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration has established a central database on over 1.1 million participants from 104 prospective population-based studies, in which subsets have information on lipid and inflammatory markers, other characteristics, as well as major cardiovascular morbidity and cause-specific mortality. Information on repeat measurements on relevant characteristics has been collected in approximately 340,000 participants to enable estimation of and correction for within-person variability. Re-analysis of individual data will yield up to approximately 69,000 incident fatal or nonfatal first ever major cardiovascular outcomes recorded during about 11.7 million person years at risk. The primary analyses will involve age-specific regression models in people without known baseline cardiovascular disease in relation to fatal or nonfatal first ever coronary heart disease outcomes. This initiative will characterize more precisely and in greater detail than has previously been possible the shape and strength of the age- and sex-specific associations of several lipid and inflammatory markers with incident coronary heart disease outcomes (and, secondarily, with other incident cardiovascular outcomes) under a wide range of circumstances. It will, therefore, help to determine to what extent such associations are independent from possible confounding factors and to what extent such markers (separately and in combination) provide incremental predictive value.

}, keywords = {Albumins, Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Diseases, Databases, Factual, Far East, Humans, Inflammation, Leukocyte Count, Lipids, Lipoproteins, HDL, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Triglycerides}, issn = {0393-2990}, doi = {10.1007/s10654-007-9165-7}, author = {Danesh, J and Erqou, S and Walker, M and Thompson, S G and Tipping, R and Ford, C and Pressel, S and Walldius, G and Jungner, I and Folsom, A R and Chambless, L E and Knuiman, M and Whincup, P H and Wannamethee, S G and Morris, R W and Willeit, J and Kiechl, S and Santer, P and Mayr, A and Wald, N and Ebrahim, S and Lawlor, D A and Yarnell, J W G and Gallacher, J and Casiglia, E and Tikhonoff, V and Nietert, P J and Sutherland, S E and Bachman, D L and Keil, J E and Cushman, M and Psaty, B M and Tracy, R P and Tybjaerg-Hansen, A and Nordestgaard, B G and Frikke-Schmidt, R and Giampaoli, S and Palmieri, L and Panico, S and Vanuzzo, D and Pilotto, L and Simons, L and McCallum, J and Friedlander, Y and Fowkes, F G R and Lee, A J and Smith, F B and Taylor, J and Guralnik, J and Phillips, C and Wallace, R and Blazer, D and Khaw, K T and Jansson, J H and Donfrancesco, C and Salomaa, V and Harald, K and Jousilahti, P and Vartiainen, E and Woodward, M and D{\textquoteright}Agostino, R B and Wolf, P A and Vasan, R S and Pencina, M J and Bladbjerg, E M and Jorgensen, T and Moller, L and Jespersen, J and Dankner, R and Chetrit, A and Lubin, F and Rosengren, A and Wilhelmsen, L and Lappas, G and Eriksson, H and Bjorkelund, C and Cremer, P and Nagel, D and Tilvis, R and Strandberg, T and Rodriguez, B and Bouter, L M and Heine, R J and Dekker, J M and Nijpels, G and Stehouwer, C D A and Rimm, E and Pai, J and Sato, S and Iso, H and Kitamura, A and Noda, H and Goldbourt, U and Salomaa, V and Salonen, J T and Nyyss{\"o}nen, K and Tuomainen, T-P and Deeg, D and Poppelaars, J L and Meade, T and Cooper, J and Hedblad, B and Berglund, G and Engstrom, G and D{\"o}ring, A and Koenig, W and Meisinger, C and Mraz, W and Kuller, L and Selmer, R and Tverdal, A and Nystad, W and Gillum, R and Mussolino, M and Hankinson, S and Manson, J and De Stavola, B and Knottenbelt, C and Cooper, J A and Bauer, K A and Rosenberg, R D and Sato, S and Naito, Y and Holme, I and Nakagawa, H and Miura, H and Ducimetiere, P and Jouven, X and Crespo, C and Garcia-Palmieri, M and Amouyel, P and Arveiler, D and Evans, A and Ferrieres, J and Schulte, H and Assmann, G and Shepherd, J and Packard, C and Sattar, N and Cantin, B and Lamarche, B and Despr{\'e}s, J-P and Dagenais, G R and Barrett-Connor, E and Wingard, D and Bettencourt, R and Gudnason, V and Aspelund, T and Sigurdsson, G and Thorsson, B and Trevisan, M and Witteman, J and Kardys, I and Breteler, M and Hofman, A and Tunstall-Pedoe, H and Tavendale, R and Lowe, G D O and Ben-Shlomo, Y and Howard, B V and Zhang, Y and Best, L and Umans, J and Onat, A and Meade, T W and Njolstad, I and Mathiesen, E and Lochen, M L and Wilsgaard, T and Gaziano, J M and Stampfer, M and Ridker, P and Ulmer, H and Diem, G and Concin, H and Rodeghiero, F and Tosetto, A and Brunner, E and Shipley, M and Buring, J and Cobbe, S M and Ford, I and Robertson, M and He, Y and Ibanez, A M and Feskens, E J M and Kromhout, D and Collins, R and Di Angelantonio, E and Kaptoge, S and Lewington, S and Orfei, L and Pennells, L and Perry, P and Ray, K and Sarwar, N and Scherman, M and Thompson, A and Watson, S and Wensley, F and White, I R and Wood, A M} }