This study was attempted to assess the relationship between peripheral leukocyte count and cardiovascular risk factors in 2.883 male(66.4%) and 1,460 female(33,6%) visitors to a health examination center of a university hospital located in Taegu
March
to December 1992. Mean age of male was 43.6 and female 45.5. Average leukocyte count was 7.5×10E3/㎕(S.D. 21) in male and 6.5×/㎕(S.D. 1.7) in female, respectively.
Statistically significant differences by sex were noted in age, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and leukocyte count(P<0-.001, respectively). The distribution of leukocyte count was approximately lognormal. Leukocyte count was
higher
in male than in female in all age groups and increased with age in both sexes. Strong positive correlation between leukocyte count and triglyceride was found in both sexes. Total cholesterol, body mass index, age and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol
had positive correlation while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had negative correlation with leukocyte count in male. And a similar pattern was also found in female, but the magnitude of correlation was stronger than in male particularly
triglyceride. Linear trend test showed dose-response relationships with body mass index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both sexes(P<0.01). Stepwise multiple
regression of
leukocyte count selected triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, age and body mass index in male, while it did triglyceride and body mass index in female.
These results suggested that there be associations between leukocyte count and conventional risk factors of coronary heart disease and leukocyte count may play an indirect role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease.
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