Relationship of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with cardiovascular risk markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Introduction Cardiovascular disease is more frequent in postmenopausal women. Atherosclerosis is associated with inflammation and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of inflammation whose behavior in postmenopause is unknown. Aim of the study To know the relationship of the NLR with cardiovascular risk markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Material and methods Premenopausal and postmenopausal women were studied, in all of them a complete hemogram and the NLR, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated, also glucose and lipids levels were measured. In all of them subcutaneous and visceral fat, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), epicardial fat were measured by ultrasound Also baseline and and after flow-mediated stimulus the arterial diameter, the pulsatility index and the resistive index of the brachial artery were measured by ultrasound. The results are reported with medians and intervals, Mann-Whitney U and Spearman correlation analysis were performed. Results Eighty two patients were recruited, 41 premenopausal and 41 postmenopausal. When comparing both groups there was no difference in glucose, lipids, NLR, PLR, carotid IMT, epicardial fat, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat or Doppler parameters of the brachial artery. Conclusion NLR was not different between premenopausal and postmenopausal women but abnormal PLR was greater in those postmenopausal with vasomotor symptoms.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is not related to carotid atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular events in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Results from the IMPROVE study

“…These two latter studies did not investigate the extent of stenosis or the carotid wall thickness. The few studies exploring the association between NLR and cIMT reported conflicting results 22–29 . Accordingly, some of them found an independent association between NLR and cIMT, 22–26 whereas this association was not observed in other studies 27–29 .…”

“…[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Accordingly, some of them found an independent association between NLR and cIMT, [22][23][24][25][26] whereas this association was not observed in other studies. [27][28][29] Also, in a retrospective study, in patients with ischemic stroke, NRL was found to be a significant predictor of the cIMT in men but not in women. 23 These studies were conducted on small patient groups and involved very heterogeneous populations in terms of cardiovascular risk (ranging from apparently lower cardiovascular risk, 27 up to higher risk populations 22,23,25 ), type of IMT measure, baseline IMT and NLR values (Table S5).…”

“…The few studies exploring the association between NLR and cIMT reported conflicting results. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Accordingly, some of them found an independent association between NLR and cIMT, [22][23][24][25][26] whereas this association was not observed in other studies. [27][28][29] Also, in a retrospective study, in patients with ischemic stroke, NRL was found to be a significant predictor of the cIMT in men but not in women.…”

“…[27][28][29] Also, in a retrospective study, in patients with ischemic stroke, NRL was found to be a significant predictor of the cIMT in men but not in women. 23 These studies were conducted on small patient groups and involved very heterogeneous populations in terms of cardiovascular risk (ranging from apparently lower cardiovascular risk, 27 up to higher risk populations 22,23,25 ), type of IMT measure, baseline IMT and NLR values (Table S5). In evaluating the differences between ours and previous studies, it must be also considered that NLR can be influenced by a series of concomitant diseases (e.g., cancer, inflammatory diseases, chronic kidney disease), which are associated with the development of atherosclerosis.…”

“…A direct cross‐sectional association between NLR and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) has been found in different studies 22–26 . However, this relationship has not been always confirmed 23,27–29 . In addition, the prospective association between NLR and cIMT progression has not been investigated so far.…”