Determinants of Population Changes in Fibrinogen and Factor VII Over 6 Years

Although numerous cross-sectional studies have identified possible determinants of plasma fibrinogen and factor VII levels, few prospective studies exist. We assessed the longitudinal relation of changes in fibrinogen and factor VII over 6 years with changes to other cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of 440 men and 549 women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Fibrinogen increased more in older participants, those with or who developed diabetes, those who at any time smoked, and those whose plasma HDL cholesterol or triglycerides decreased and increased less in female participants who started hormonal replacement therapy. Factor VII coagulant activity increased more in younger participants, women, those who gained greater weight or developed diabetes, those who quit smoking, those in whom plasma triglycerides decreased, and female participants who received hormonal replacement therapy. Thus, our longitudinal data suggest with some exceptions that adverse changes in cardiovascular risk factors are accompanied by increases in plasma levels of fibrinogen and factor VII.