RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEMOGLOBIN AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN YOUNG-ADULTS

To understand mechanisms of association between hemoglobin and cardiov ascular disease (CVD), the relationships between hemoglobin and CVD ri sk factors were examined in 5115 black and white men and women who par ticipated in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CAR DIA) Study. Hemoglobin was higher in men than women, whites than black s, and smokers than non-smokers (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, body mass index, current smoking status, and clinical center, hemoglob in correlated with diastolic blood pressure (0.11 less than or equal t o r less than or equal to 0.22, p < 0.001) and plasma total cholestero l (0.08 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.11, p < 0.01) in all four race-sex groups and with systolic blood pressure in an but black women (0.07 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.13, p < 0.05). Among other factors possibly related to CVD risk, only ser um albumin and white blood cell count showed significant correlations with hemoglobin in all groups (0.19 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.27, 0.07 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0 .18, respectively). These findings suggest that an association of hemo globin with CVD risk factors may explain the association of hemoglobin with CVD.