FACTOR-VII AND FIBRINOGEN LEVELS EXAMINED BY AGE, SEX, AND OTHER ATHEROSCLEROTIC RISK-FACTORS IN A JAPANESE POPULATION - THE JICHI-MEDICAL-SCHOOL COHORT STUDY

Factor VII coagulant activity (FVIIc) and fibrinogen (Fbg) levels have been investigated as cardiovascular risk factors. We studied these tw o factors with stratification for age, sex and blood pressure, and the relation with other atherosclerotic risk factors in a Japanese genera l population. The subjects were 3,139 Japanese (1,315 males and 1,824 females) aged 30 to 89 in 1992 and 1993. A linear increase with age wa s observed in the levels of Fbg in both men and women, but no differen ces were observed between men and women in each age group. A linear in crease with age was also seen in the levels of FVIIc in women, but the levels of FVIIc in men were significantly higher for the age group 40 -49 years than for any other age group. The levels of FVIIc in women w ere significantly higher than in men at age greater than or equal to 6 0 years. As concerning the effect of alcohol intake status, Fbg had a tendency to decrease with alcohol intake. Fbg and FVIIc levels were as sociated with an increase in smoking status in men, but no association was seen in women in either Fbg or FVIIc. FVIIc was positively correl ated with age, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglycerides and f asting insulin level. Fbg was positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-chol esterol and triglycerides in women, but Fbg had few positive correlati ons with risk factors in men. A comparison with previous Western studi es showed that the Fbg levels of our Japanese population were lower th an those of the Caucasians studied, but the present FVIIc levels were nearly the same level or slightly higher than theirs. The association of Fbg and FVIIc and with other cardiovascular risk factors in Japanes e was similar to those observed in Caucasians.