Background: Previous studies have reported on the association between white blood cell counts, in particular monocytes, and cardiovascular disease, but have predominantly been conducted on middle-aged men. We examined whether this association is sustained in an elderly population-based sample.
Methods: Two samples of individuals aged 65 years and older living in Cambridge and Nottingham were recruited from the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS). Venepuncture was undertaken in 1046 individuals, excluding only those who had probable dementia or were physically frail. Monocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil and basophil counts were analysed for possible associations with history of cardiovascular disease.
Results: We found that monocyte and neutrophil counts were both significantly associated with history of cardiovascular disease, with respective odds ratios of 1.48 (95% CI 1.22-1.79) and of 1.44 (95% CI 1.19-1.75) per count tertile. These relationships remained significant on adjusting for age, sex, smoking and body mass index. We found no evidence of association between lymphocyte, eosinophil or basophil counts and history of cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions: Monocyte and neutrophil counts are both associated with cardiovascular disease in a relatively healthy elderly population.