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Lymphocytes ≥ 2.9 (109/L) in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Are A Predictor of Future CVD Events

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Abstract

Objective

Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammatory condition. The immune system is a key mediator in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In a previous study, we found that the immune system was activated in diabetes and that total white blood cell (WBC) counts were elevated significantly in diabetic patients. To investigate whether WBC subtype counts in newly diagnosed diabetes are risk factors for future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, we conducted a prospective population-based cohort study.

Methods

A total of 1498 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 to 70 years old were followed up for three years. Participants with previous CVD history and abnormal WBC counts were excluded. CVD events were recorded during follow-up.

Results

We found that the baseline lymphocyte counts were independently associated with cardiovascular events during follow-up, with the Exp (β) (95% CI) at 1.749 (1.084–2.821). Lymphocyte count ≥2.9 (109/L) was significantly associated with the development of CVD (HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.12–4.67). The corresponding incidence of CVD per 1000 person-year for the lymphocyte count ≤2.8 (109/L) and lymphocyte count ≥2.9 (109/L) groups were 11.26 and 26.38, respectively.

Conclusion

We concluded that even in a normal range, higher lymphocyte levels may result in a significantly higher CVD risk among diabetic patients. Lymphocyte count ≥2.9 (109/L) is an independent predictor of developing future CVD events.

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Author notes

  1. The authors contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Hong-mei Zhang, Xiao-yong Li, Ning Lin, Yi-xin Niu, Zhen Yang, Li Qin & Qing Su

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University (Chongming Branch), Shanghai, 202150, China

    Hong-xia Gu, Shuai Lu & Li Qin

Authors
  1. Hong-mei Zhang
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  2. Xiao-yong Li
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  3. Ning Lin
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  4. Yi-xin Niu
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  5. Hong-xia Gu
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  6. Shuai Lu
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  7. Zhen Yang
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  8. Li Qin
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  9. Qing Su
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Li Qin or Qing Su.

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The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2016YFC0901200 and No. 2016YFC0901203), Shanghai Pujiang Program (No. 2019PJD033), the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (No. 15411953200, No. 10411956600 and No. 14ZR1427400), the National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases (No. 2013BAI09B13), the National Key New Drug Creation and Manufacturing Program of Ministry of Science and Technology (No. 2012ZX09303006-001).

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Zhang, Hm., Li, Xy., Lin, N. et al. Lymphocytes ≥ 2.9 (109/L) in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Are A Predictor of Future CVD Events. CURR MED SCI 42, 327–332 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2541-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2541-4

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