@article {892, title = {The association of markers of inflammation with weight change in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Int J Obes (Lond)}, volume = {30}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Sep}, pages = {1362-7}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Elevated levels of inflammation factors often precede weight loss and may be causally related to it. Newer studies suggest that elevated levels of inflammation factors also precede weight gain. In this study, we examined whether inflammation factors are elevated in individuals, age >or=65 years, who lost or gained >5\% weight over a 3 year follow-up period compared to those with stable weight.

SUBJECTS: In total, 3254 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study whose weight was stable; 661 who gained >5\% weight; and 842 who lost >5\% weight.

MEASUREMENTS: C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, factor VIIIc, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.

RESULTS: As compared to participants whose weight was stable, those who lost >5\% weight had higher baseline CRP concentration (1.05 (95\% CI, 1.02, 1.08) per interquartile increase) and WBC count (1.10 (1.01, 1.19) per interquartile increase) on adjusted analyses. Those who gained >5\% weight had higher baseline CRP (1.05 (1.01, 1.08)), fibrinogen (1.13 (1.01, 1.27)), and factor VIIIc (1.15 (1.03, 1.30)).

CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation factors are associated with weight gain and weight loss in older individuals. These findings suggest that subclinical inflammation, or unknown factors associated with subclinical inflammation, contribute to weight change.

}, keywords = {Aged, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Factor VIII, Female, Fibrinogen, Humans, Inflammation, Interleukin-6, Leukocyte Count, Male, Platelet Count, Weight Gain, Weight Loss}, issn = {0307-0565}, doi = {10.1038/sj.ijo.0803306}, author = {Barzilay, J I and Forsberg, C and Heckbert, S R and Cushman, M and Newman, A B} } @article {1068, title = {Platelet count and the risk for thrombosis and death in the elderly.}, journal = {J Thromb Haemost}, volume = {7}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Mar}, pages = {399-405}, abstract = {

AIM: Our aim was to examine the association between platelet count and the incidence of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, venous thrombosis, and mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Platelet count was measured at baseline in 1989-1990 and at 3 years follow-up, or at baseline (for a newly recruited group) in 1992-1993 in 5766 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older (mean age at baseline, 73 years). During 12-15 years of follow-up, there were 821 incident myocardial infarctions, 807 ischemic strokes, 161 hemorrhagic strokes, 159 venous thrombotic events, and 3413 participants died. Platelet count was not associated with the occurrence of myocardial infarction, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, venous thrombosis, or cardiovascular mortality. Non-cardiovascular mortality was higher among both participants with low and with high platelet count. Adjusted non-cardiovascular mortality rates for platelet counts below 100, 100-199, 300-399, and above 400 x 10(9) L(-1) relative to the reference mortality rate in participants with platelet count values between 200 and 299 x 10(9) L(-1) were 1.89 (1.21-2.96), 1.08 (0.98-1.20), 1.20 (1.06-1.37), and 1.47 (1.14-1.90), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Platelet counts were not associated with vascular outcomes but low and high platelet counts were associated with non-cardiovascular mortality, including cancer mortality.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Cerebral Hemorrhage, Female, Humans, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Platelet Count, Risk, Stroke, Survival Analysis, Thrombosis, Venous Thrombosis}, issn = {1538-7836}, doi = {10.1111/j.1538-7836.2008.03267.x}, author = {van der Bom, J G and Heckbert, S R and Lumley, T and Holmes, C E and Cushman, M and Folsom, A R and Rosendaal, F R and Psaty, B M} }