Fibrinogen independently predicts the development of ischemic stroke in a Taiwanese population: CVDFACTS study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Of few prospective studies that have focused on the relationship between fibrinogen and ischemic stroke (IS) in Asian populations, the findings were inconsistent with those conducted in Western countries. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the temporal relationship between fibrinogen levels (plus several related parameters) and IS in a community-based study in Taiwan.

METHODS

Baseline data from 3281 adults (>or=20 years of age) in the Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factor Two-Township Study were linked to incidental IS status derived from insurance claims and death certificate records. Hazard ratios and 95% CIs of clotting factors (fibrinogen, factor VII, factor VIII, and antithrombin-III) for IS events were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

With 10.4 years (average) follow-up, 128 persons developed IS (3.75 per 1000 person-years). As expected, elevated blood pressure and diabetes were independent predictors of IS events. A dose-response relationship was found in univariate analysis between IS risk and tertiles of fibrinogen (hazard ratio, 3.73; 2.19 to 1.00), factor VII (hazard ratio, 1.86; 1.35 to 1.00), and factor VIII (2.97; 1.70 to 1.00), respectively, but not for antithrombin-III. After adjusting for confounding and known risk factors, fibrinogen independently predicted IS events. A 72% increase (hazard ratio, 1.72; 1.02 to 2.90) in IS risk was observed for individuals with fibrinogen >or=8.79 mumol/L compared with those <7.03 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to hypertension and diabetes, fibrinogen independently predicted future IS risk. We suggest that fibrinogen may be considered in the risk assessment model for IS in the Taiwanese population.