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Anemia is associated with the progression of white matter disease in older adults with high blood pressure: the cardiovascular health study.

TitleAnemia is associated with the progression of white matter disease in older adults with high blood pressure: the cardiovascular health study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsInzitari, M, Studenski, S, Rosano, C, Zakai, NA, Longstreth, WT, Cushman, M, Newman, AB
JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Volume56
Issue10
Pagination1867-72
Date Published2008 Oct
ISSN1532-5415
KeywordsAged, Anemia, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Hypertension, Leukoaraiosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male
Abstract<p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To investigate whether anemia predicts worsening white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in older community-dwellers.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>Prospective cohort study.</p><p><b>SETTING: </b>Older community-dwellers.</p><p><b>PARTICIPANTS: </b>One thousand eight hundred forty-six Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) participants (mean age 73.7 +/- 4.4, 41% male, 15.6% African American).</p><p><b>MEASUREMENTS: </b>Participants had hemoglobin measured and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 1992/93 and a second brain MRI in 1997/98. Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization criteria (hemoglobin <12 g/dL in women and <13 g/dL in men). Worsening WMHs were determined according to standardized side-by-side readings.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>After 5 years, WMHs worsened in 517 participants (28%). Progression was not associated with anemia in the whole sample, in sex or race strata, or in other prespecified subgroups (participants with renal dysfunction or diabetes mellitus), except in participants with high blood pressure (>or=140/90 mmHg). Of the 678 participants with high blood pressure, those with anemia (10.5%) had a 1.79 times greater risk of WMHs worsening (95% confidence interval=1.06-2.98; P for interaction between anemia and high blood pressure=.01) independent of demographics, baseline WMHs, cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities, medications, renal function, inflammation, and incident stroke (logistic regression models). There was no greater risk in participants with anemia with normal blood pressure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Anemia may contribute to worsening of WMHs in older adults with high blood pressure.</p>
DOI10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01950.x
Alternate JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
PubMed ID18811608
PubMed Central IDPMC2897005
Grant ListP30 AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC015103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC55222 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85086 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-55222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-75150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC-15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC75150 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85079 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC045133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC035129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States