Platelet count can predict metabolic syndrome in older women

Abstract

Platelet count (PC) has been found to be related to the metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the role of PC on MetS remained unclear. In order to evaluate the relationship between PC and MetS components cross-sectionally and determine the optimal cutoff PCs for predicting the subsequent risk of MetS development with sex specificity, two stages included cross-sectional (stage 1) and prospective (stage 2) cohort study were conducted. Stage 1 involved 10 579 subjects aged ≥60 years, of which 7718 subjects advanced to stage 2 with a mean 3.8 year follow-up were enrolled. The MetS components and PC were determined. The PC cutoffs for higher chances of developing MetS in stage 1 were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. In stage 2, non-MetS subjects were classified into high-PC (HPC) and low-PC (LPC) groups according to the cutoff values from stage 1. We examined the difference of future MetS incidence and calculated the odds ratio (OR) between these two groups. In stage 1, multiple regression showed that age and triglyceride (both sexes) and waist circumstance and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (only women) were independently correlated with PC. There was significant difference in the area under the ROC curve (AUC) only of HPC women, which exceeded the standard curve (AUC = 0.542, p < 0.001), with a cutoff PC of 223 × 10³/μl. HPC women had an OR of 1.287 (95% confidence interval: 1.135–1.461) of developing MetS after 3.8 years. The Kaplan–Meier curve demonstrated a higher incidence of MetS development in HPC women. In conclusion, our results suggest that PC was associated with MetS with sex effects. Most of the MetS components were independent factors for increasing PC, and the risk for subsequent development of MetS was noted when PC >223 × 10³/μl in elderly women.

• Elderly
• metabolic syndrome
• platelet count

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The present study was supported by grants from the Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH-C101-119) and Cardinal Tien Hospital (NC10102).

Author contributions

Yen-Lin Chen: Study design and manuscript writing

Yi-Jen Hung: Carried out statistical analysis and interpretation of the results

Chih-Tsueng He: Helped to draft the manuscript

Chien-Hsing Lee: Involved in discussion of the results

Fone-Ching Hsiao: Involved in discussion of the results

Dee Pei: Conceived of the study, and participated in its design

Chang-Hsun Hsieh: Conceived of the study, and participated in its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.