Association between telomere length, inflammation and cardiovascular risk
Leukocyte telomere length is an indicator of biological aging and is associated with chronic inflammation and clinical cardiovascular (CVD) diseases. Many studies have related shorter telomere length to CVD risk such as using Framingham risk score. The ASSIGN score is the first to incorporate Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) as a CVD risk factor in Scotland. However, association between telomere attrition and ASSIGN score is unclear. Our study examined the association between telomere attrition and CVD risk estimated by ASSIGN score among Scottish adults.
METHODS:
Leukocyte telomere length was measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction among 1,779 participants from the Scottish Family Health Study. We undertook a cross-sectional study of the association between ASSIGN score and telomere length. Inclusion was restricted to adults aged ≥ 18 years who were free of CVD history and had provided blood samples. Linear regression models were used to investigate the relationships between telomere length, ASSIGN score and C reactive protein (CRP) as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations. Biomarkers were log-transformed in the regression analyses to satisfy the assumption of normally distributed residuals.
RESULTS:
Of the 1,779 participants, telomere length could be measured on 1,721. Among these, ASSIGN score could be calculated on 1,065. In the linear regression analyses, telomere length declined with increasing ASSIGN score (coefficient -0.006 95%CI -0.007- -0.004, R2=0.03, p<0.001). Log telomere length decreased with increasing CRP and IL-6 concentrations in both univariate linear regression and multivariate linear regression adjusted for potential confounders (coefficient -0.022 95%CI -0.037- -0.007, R2=0.08, p=0.004 for CRP; coefficient -0.051 95%CI -0.074- -0.029, R2=0.09, p<0.001 for IL-6 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study suggests that reduced leukocyte telomere length is associated with CVD risk assessed by ASSIGN score among a cohort free of CVD history. It also further supports the association between telomere attrition and inflammation.