
Harry Björkbacka
Researcher

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in plasma is associated with incidence of CVD. Results from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study.
Author
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a highly sensitive marker that reflects increased inflammation and is positively correlated with pro-inflammatory biomarkers. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between suPAR, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and incidence of CVD. METHODS: suPAR was assessed in a random sample of participants (N=569), aged 63-68 years (mean age 65.5), from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS) cardiovascular cohort. Baseline examination was conducted between 1991 and 1994. suPAR in blood was analysed using a commercially available assay (suPARnostic). Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the incidence of CVD (coronary events or ischemic stroke), in relation to sex-specific tertiles of suPAR. RESULTS: Significantly higher plasma levels of suPAR was found in women, smokers, diabetics and older subjects. suPAR was significantly positively correlated with markers of systemic inflammation (i.e., high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and white blood cells (WBC), but not to lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA(2)), a specific vascular inflammatory biomarker.87 subjects had a CVD event during follow-up (mean 14.1 years). In an age/sex-adjusted model, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident CVD was 2.53 (95%CI: 1.44-4.46) for the top compared to the bottom tertile of suPAR. This association remained significant after further adjustment for smoking, low density lipoprotein (LDL), systolic blood pressure, use of anti-hypertensive medication, diabetes, hsCRP, WBC and Lp-PLA(2) (HR: 2.25; 1.07-4.72). CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of suPAR are, independently of established cardiovascular risk factors, associated with an increased incidence of CVD in elderly subjects.
Department/s
- Internal Medicine - Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Research - Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis
- EXODIAB: Excellence of Diabetes Research in Sweden
- EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Pages
502-505
Publication/Series
Atherosclerosis
Volume
220
Issue
2
Full text
- Available as PDF - 163 kB
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Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Status
Published
Research group
- Internal Medicine - Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Research - Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1879-1484