Summary
Several coagulation proteins have been implicated as possible risk factors for the
development of atherosclerotic diseases, among which are factor VIII and von Willebrand
factor. As part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective
study designed to assess risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic diseases,
baseline measurements of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were performed
to determine their relationship to the development of atherosclerosis. We herein report
the associations of factor VIII and vWF with constitutional, lifestyle, and biochemical
factors. Factor VIII and vWF were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.73), and, therefore, had similar associations with risk factors. Mean levels
of both factors were higher in women than in men, in blacks than in whites, and increased
with age. In univariate analysis, both were positively associated with diabetes, body
mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, serum insulin, and plasma triglycerides. Both were
negatively associated with alcohol intake, educational level, physical activity (with
some exceptions), and HDL-cholesterol. No correlations were observed between factor
VIII or vWF and plasma LDL-cholesterol or lipoprotein(a). Although factor VIII was
negatively associated with smoking in both sexes, vWF was not associated with smoking
status. Most of these associations were confirmed in multivariate analysis. The strongest
associations observed were of factor VIII and vWF with race and diabetes. In multivariate
analysis, blacks had factor VIII and vWF levels 15 to 18 percentage points higher
than whites, and diabetics had factor VIII and vWF levels 11 to 18 percentage points
higher than non-diabetics. These associations must be taken into account when analyzing
the possible role of factor VIII and vWF in the development of atherosclerotic diseases.
