Table 2 Multivariate (Model 2a) hazard ratios of CVD, stroke and CHD by clinically defined categories of elements of the complete blood count, n = 14,362, EPIC-NL.

From: Elements of the complete blood count associated with cardiovascular disease incidence: Findings from the EPIC-NL cohort study

 

Category

N total

N cases

CVD

 

Stroke

N cases

CHD

HR (95% CI)

P-trend

N cases

HR (95% CI)

P-trend

HR (95% CI)

P-trend

RBC

           

RBC (1012 cells/L)

Low (<4.5)M & (<3.8)F

482

42

1.32 (0.95; 1.85)

0.18

10

2.13 (1.05; 4.30)

0.04

22

0.99 (0.62; 1.58)

0.25

Normal (4.5–6.5)M & (3.8–5.8)F

13872

949

1 (ref)

 

186

1 (ref)

 

566

1 (ref)

 

High (≥6.5)M & (≥5.8)F

8

1

2.29 (0.32; 16.46)

 

0

NA

 

1

5.37 (0.74; 38.74)

 

Haematocrit (L/L)

Low (<0.40)M & (<0.37)F

1146

59

1.09 (0.83; 1.42)

0.16

8

0.70 (0.34; 1.43)

0.36

40

1.38 (0.99; 1.91)

0.14

Normal (0.40–0.52)M & (0.37–0.47)F

13039

908

1 (ref)

 

182

1 (ref)

 

535

1 (ref)

 

High (≥0.52)M & (≥0.47)F

177

25

1.45 (0.97; 2.17)

 

6

1.54 (0.67; 3.50)

 

14

1.22 (0.68; 2.17)

 

Mean cell volume (fL)

Low (<77)

133

11

1.64 (0.90; 2.99)

0.01

0

NA

0.39

9

2.27 (1.16; 4.42)

0.02

Normal (77–95)

12033

781

1 (ref)

 

157

1 (ref)

 

467

1 (ref)

 

High (≥95)

2196

200

1.25 (1.06; 1.47)

 

39

1.18 (0.81; 1.72)

 

113

1.18 (0.94; 1.47)

 

RDW (%)

Low (<11.5)

1125

49

0.83 (0.62; 1.11)

0.05

12

1.00 (0.55; 1.80)

0.51

27

0.74 (0.49; 1.11)

0.21

 

Normal (11.5–15)

13037

926

1 (ref)

 

181

1 (ref)

 

552

1 (ref)

 
 

High (≥15)

200

17

1.73 (1.03; 2.92)

 

3

2.03 (0.61; 6.72)

 

10

1.44 (0.72; 2.89)

 

WBC

WBC (109 cells)

Low (<4.5)

1139

49

0.80 (0.59; 1.07)

0.01

8

0.64 (0.31; 1.31)

0.03

28

0.82 (0.56; 1.20)

0.40

Normal (4.5–10)

12397

851

1 (ref)

 

165

1 (ref)

 

513

1 (ref)

 

High (> = 10)

826

92

1.34 (1.07; 1.69)

 

23

1.75 (1.10; 2.79)

 

48

1.15 (0.84; 1.58)

 

Lymphocyte (109 cells)

Low (<1.3)

1390

81

0.96 (0.76; 1.22)

0.26

19

1.11 (0.68; 1.81)

0.91

45

0.94 (0.69; 1.29)

0.83

Normal (1.3–3.5)

12659

871

1 (ref)

 

171

1 (ref)

 

522

1 (ref)

 

High (> = 3.5)

313

40

1.30 (0.94; 1.80)

 

6

0.97 (0.42; 2.21)

 

22

1.11 (0.71; 1.75)

 

Monocyte (109 cells)

Low <0.2

173

8

0.64 (0.32; 1.28)

0.0002

2

0.73 (0.18; 2.97)

0.32

5

0.73 (0.30; 1.77)

0.06

Normal 0.2–0.8

13181

860

1 (ref)

 

172

1 (ref)

 

512

1 (ref)

 

High> = 0.8

1008

124

1.48 (1.22; 1.81)

 

22

1.40 (0.88; 2.23)

 

72

1.35 (1.04; 1.76)

 

Neutrophil (109 cells)

Low < 2.0

423

21

1.09 (0.71; 1.69)

0.82

2

0.53 (0.13; 2.15)

0.18

14

1.29 (0.75; 2.19)

0.58

Normal 2.0–7.5

13460

931

1 (ref)

 

182

1 (ref)

 

555

1 (ref)

 

High >7.5

479

40

1.08 (0.78; 1.50)

 

12

1.64 (0.90; 3.01)

 

20

0.89 (0.56; 1.42)

 

Platelets

Platelet count (109 cells/L)

Low <150

299

23

1.01 (0.66; 1.52)

0.15

8

1.91 (0.93; 3.93)

0.21

13

0.74 (0.39; 1.39)

0.07

Normal 150–400

13818

944

1 (ref)

 

184

1 (ref)

 

559

1 (ref)

 

High > = 400

245

25

1.49 (1.00; 2.22)

 

4

1.16 (0.43; 3.15)

 

17

1.69 (1.03; 2.80)

 

Plateletcrit (L/L)

Low <0.15

470

29

0.84 (0.58; 1.22)

0.31

9

1.33 (0.67; 2.61)

0.72

19

0.85 (0.52; 1.38)

0.16

Normal 0.15–0.40

13822

955

1 (ref)

 

186

1 (ref)

 

564

1 (ref)

 

High > = 0.40

70

8

1.54 (0.77; 3.10)

 

1

0.98 (0.14; 7.02)

 

6

2.08 (0.93; 4.68)

 

Mean platelet volume (fL)

Low <7.5

468

39

1.27 (0.92; 1.76)

0.29

5

0.81 (0.33; 1.97)

0.73

23

1.30 (0.85; 1.97)

0.38

Normal 7.5–11.5

13543

923

1 (ref)

 

187

1 (ref)

 

547

1 (ref)

 

High > = 11.5

351

30

1.12 (0.78; 1.61)

 

4

0.72 (0.27; 1.94)

 

19

1.18 (0.74; 1.90)

 
  1. aHRs adjusted for age, smoking status and intensity (7 categories), body mass index (BMI, continuous), Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR, continuous), physical activity level (Cambridge index, 4 categories), educational level (low, medium, high), alcohol intake (non drinker, occasional drinker, frequent drinker), systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and diabetes. Stratified by sex and cohort center. Age is the underlying time variable. Exit age is age at first outcome of interest or censoring. CVD, cardiovascular disease; CHD, coronary heart disease.
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