Cytomegalovirus seropositivity and incident ischaemic heart disease in theCaerphilly prospective heart disease study

Objective-To assess the role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in primary ischaemic heart disease. Methods-Plasma specimens collected during 1979-83 from men in Caerphilly, s outh Wales, were analysed for IgG antibodies to CMV by enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay and latex tests. Incident ischaemic heart disease events were ascertained after five and 10 years from death certificates, hospital reco rds, and ECG changes; 195 incident ischaemic heart disease cases were compa red with 216 controls of a similar age drawn from the rest of the cohort. Results-164 cases (84%) and 180 controls (83%) were seropositive for CMV. O ptical density an indicator of CMV antibody titre, was similar for cases an d controls. Among controls, seropositivity was not associated with age, soc ioeconomic status currently or in childhood, smoking, height, body mass ind ex, blood pressure, total cholesterol, fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, or leu cocyte count. The unadjusted odds ratio relating CMV seropositivity to inci dent ischaemic heart disease was 1.06 (95% confidence interval 0.63 to 1.79 ) and was little changed (1.11, 0.63 to 1.97) after adjustment for age, smo king, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and soci oeconomic status currently and in childhood. Conclusions-CMV infection is unlikely to be a strong risk factor for develo pment of myocardial infarction in middle aged men.