Determinants of population changes in fibrinogen and factor VII over 6 years - The atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study

Although numerous cross-sectional studies have identified possible determin ants of plasma fibrinogen and factor VII levels, few prospective studies ex ist. We assessed the longitudinal relation of changes in fibrinogen and fac tor vn over 6 years with changes to other cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of 440 men and 549 women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communitie s (ARIC) study. Fibrinogen increased more in older participants, those with or who developed diabetes, those who at any time smoked, and those whose p lasma HDL cholesterol or triglycerides decreased and increased less in fema le participants who started hormonal replacement therapy. Factor VII coagul ant activity increased more in younger participants, women, those who gaine d greater weight or developed diabetes, those who quit smoking, those in wh om plasma triglycerides decreased, and female participants who received hor monal replacement therapy. Thus, our longitudinal data suggest with some ex ceptions that adverse changes in cardiovascular risk factors are accompanie d by increases in plasma levels of fibrinogen and factor VII.