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Leukocyte-related parameters in older adults with metabolic syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to examine the association between leukocyte-related parameters and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in community-dwelling older Chinese adults, with a special focus on assessing the diagnostic ability of leukocyte-related parameters in detecting MetS and the potential interaction effect of sex in the leukocyte–MetS relationship.

Methods

Study sample was from the Weitang Geriatric Diseases Study, which included 4579 individuals aged 60 years or above. MetS was diagnosed based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Leukocyte-related parameters were assessed using an automated hematology analyzer.

Results

The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)) of MetS for the highest quartile of leukocyte-related parameters (leukocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil), when compared with the lowest quartile were 2.87 (2.30, 3.59), 2.69 (2.15, 3.36), 2.09 (1.67, 2.62), 2.12 (1.71, 2.64), 1.62 (1.31, 2.00), and 1.36 (1.11, 1.65), respectively. Adding leukocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil to a model containing conventional risk factors improved risk prediction for MetS. Furthermore, significant interactions between leukocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, and sex on MetS were observed (all P value for interaction <0.01).

Conclusion

The numbers of total leukocytes, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, and eosinophil counts were elevated in older adults with MetS, suggesting that leukocyte-related parameters may be meaningful biomarkers for MetS. Adding leukocyte-related parameters to the conventional models increased the ability of predicting MetS among older adults. These parameters may be useful biomarkers for further risk appraisal of MetS in older adults.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Science and Technology Bureau of Xiangcheng District in Suzhou, China under grant no. XJ201706 and the Health Commission of Suzhou under grant no. GSWS2019090.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Xue-Jiao Yang, Shun Tian, Hong-Peng Sun, Yong Xu & Chen-Wei Pan

  2. The 3rd People’s Hospital of Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, China

    Qing-Hua Ma

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  1. Xue-Jiao Yang
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Correspondence to Chen-Wei Pan.

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Yang, XJ., Tian, S., Ma, QH. et al. Leukocyte-related parameters in older adults with metabolic syndrome. Endocrine 68, 312–319 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02243-2

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