Fibrinogen and factor VII levels are related to adiposity but not to fetalgrowth or social class in children aged 10-11 years

Factors operating in fetal life or during childhood may be important in det ermining fibrinogen and factor VII concentrations in adult life, and partic ularly in explaining social gradients in cardiovascular disease risk. In 19 94, the authors measured fibrinogen and factor Vile levels in 641 Children aged 10-11 years (61% response rate) from schools in five towns in England and Wa:les. Birth weight was obtained by maternal recall, and other data on measures of fetal growth were obtained from birth records. Fibrinogen leve ls were higher in girls (258.8 mg/dl) than in boys (245.4 mg/dl) (95% confi dence interval (CI) for difference: 5.5, 21.5). Fibrinogen and factor Vile levels were linearly related to adiposity, rising by 37.1 mg/dl (95% CI: 24 .7, 49.5) and 13.0% of standard (95% CI: 6.3, 19.7), respectively, between the bottom and top quintiles of ponderal index (weight (kg)/height (m)(3)). Fibrinogen was independently related to heart rate (p < 0.001) and was neg atively but nonsignificantly related to measures of physical activity. Fact or Vile was positively correlated with total cholesterol (p < 0.001). No re lations were found with measures of fetal growth or social class. These dat a do not support the concept that fibrinogen or factor VII levels are deter mined in utero or by social factors in childhood. Adiposity and physical tr aining appear to be the important determinants of fibrinogen and factor VII levels in childhood.