Leukocyte and Platelet Related Inflammatory Indicators and Risk of Carotid and Femoral Plaques: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast China

Abstract

The associations between several blood inflammatory indicators and risk of vascular plaques remain inconclusive. A total of 4596 native rural residents in Southeast China were enrolled from the Fuqing cohort study. Blood cell counts and their composite indexes including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and 2 novel indicators (systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and systemic immune inflammation response index (SIRI)) were considered as inflammatory indicators. Common carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques were assessed using B-mode ultrasound. Unconditional or multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate potential associations. The prevalence of multiple femoral plaques (defined as IMT ≥1.5 mm) was significantly higher among participants with the highest tertile of total leukocyte count (odds ratio, 1.78), neutrophil count (1.88), monocyte count (2.51), platelet count (1.68), NLR (1.93), PLR (1.57), SII (2.10), and SIRI (2.94). Higher levels of neutrophil count, platelet count, NLR, and SII were also found to have significant linear dose-response relationships with the prevalence of stenosis, especially in femoral arteries. In conclusion, several blood inflammatory biomarkers may contribute to, or are associated with, the presence of IMT ≥1.5 mm or stenosis especially in femoral arteries.

The ratio of systolic and diastolic pressure is associated with carotid and femoral atherosclerosis

“…To date, the carotid artery is most frequently reported in previous studies (3), while the femoral artery has been less studied in a general population setting. In such cases, a screening program was launched among rural residents aged 35-74 years in southeastern China, and the IMT and presence of plaques were measured at the far wall of the left and right carotid arteries and femoral arteries concurrently (11,12). Carotid AS, defined as TIMT and plaque, was reported among 22.7% of the current population, which was similar to the results of a meta-analysis using global datasets (3).…”

“…Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from the baseline survey of the Fuqing Cohort Study (11)(12)(13), conducted in Fuqing City, Fujian Province, China. Native residents aged 35-74 years were recruited, and a total of 10,193 residents participated in the baseline survey of the cohort from January 2019 to June 2021.…”

“…TIMT and plaques in the carotid or/and femoral arteries were the secondary outcomes. B-mode ultrasound imaging (EDGEII, Sono Sound, America) was performed to determine IMT and plaques in the carotid and femoral arteries synchronously by qualified surgeons, as previously reported (11,12). Briefly, TIMT was reported if there exists an IMT ≥ 1.0 mm at any one of the four arteries.…”