HEMOSTATIC PARAMETERS AND LIFE-STYLE FACTORS IN ELDERLY MEN IN ITALY AND THE NETHERLANDS

The association between plasma fibrinogen, factor VII, factor X, activ ated partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin III and the lifestyle f actors cigarette smoking, alcohol use, fat intake and physical activit y was assessed in 802 men aged 70-90 years in Zutphen (The Netherlands ), Montegiorgio and Crevalcore (Italy). Smoking was positively associa ted with fibrinogen, also after adjustment for other lifestyle factors , age, use of anticoagulants and aspirin like drugs, body mass index, and history of myocardial infarction. Alcohol use was associated with increased levels of factor X and decreased levels of antithrombin III. Fat intake was positively associated with antithrombin III. Between c ohorts, considerable differences were observed in levels of haemostati c parameters and the lifestyle factors. Compared to the mediterranean cohorts the Zutphen cohort showed the highest levels of fibrinogen and factor VII. Differences in lifestyle factors could, however, not expl ain differences between cohorts in levels of any of the haemostatic pa rameters, despite the observed associations between lifestyle factors and haemostatic parameters.