Coagulant activity of factor VII (FVIIc) in old people with ischemic heartdisease

BACKGROUND: The coagulant activity of factor VII increases with age and is a risk factor in middle aged subjects. Its role in elderly people is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not FVIIc is a ri sk factor in such population, PATIENTS AND METHOD: Study design: cases and controls study. The group of c ases consisted of 79 subjects fulfilling the following criteria: a) age bet ween 65 and 85 years, and b) admission in the Valle de las Pedroches Hospit al of Pozoblanco (Cordoba, Spain) due to a myocardial infarction and/or uns table angina, 2 or 6 months before their enrollment. The control group cons isted of 81 subjects of similar age, chosen at random from the municipal re gistry, and excluding those with coronary heart disease. Factor Vile was me asured by conventional methods. Plasma samples were diluted with deficient plasma in FVIIc, and coagulation times were measured after adding thrombopl astin and calcium. The measures were compared with a "control", plasma and the results were presented as a percentage. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the FVIIc between cases ( 118.3 [SD 22.2]) and controls (116.5 [24.4]; p = 0.630) in the total group, When classified according to their age, it was observed that within the gr oup of more than 75 years old, cases had a higher FVIIc than controls (124. 1 [18.2] vs 113.3 [23.5]; p < 0.05). When the classification was carried ou t according to sex, male presented similar results than the total group, Bi variable analysis showed, in subjects with coronary diseases, that FVIIc wa s related to total cholesterol, cLDL, apoprotein a, body mass index, HbA(1c ), and age. Factors related to FVIIc in the multivariable analysis were bas al glucose serum level, body mass index; cHDL was negatively related. CONCLUSIONS: FVIIc is higher in very old subjects with coronary diseases so it may be a significant coronary risk factor in this age group.