Abstract #3

 

 

Abstract #3 Accepted for ATS conference, 2014

 

Asthma’s Correlation with Pro-thrombotic Bio-markers (Factor VIII activity)

 

Introduction:
Asthma is very well known to increase the risk of DVT and PE, but few of the studies have investigated the role of thrombotic phenomenon in asthma. Recently, a correlation of endothelial cell disturbance biomarkers; the vonWillebrand factor with functional and structural lung defects has been shown.

 

So pro-thrombotic biomarkers, for example, factor-VIII, D Dimer, ACA, Fibrinogen, can be used as surrogates of lung function if association of these biomarkers with asthma is statistically significant. Delineating the relationship of factor-VIII levels with asthma can explain the contribution of this phenomenon.

 

Purpose: Identification of coagulation determinants in adult lung patients and dissemination of information to the healthcare providers will result in improved patient outcomes.

 

Method: This is a retrospective analysis of 400 high risk patients seeking health care in an outpatient medical clinic at San Angelo, Texas. Socio-demographic, laboratory and clinical information were obtained from medical records. The exposure variables were; demographic characteristics, information about co-morbidities, and blood biomarkers. The outcome variable was factor VIII levels > 150, as a measure of thrombosis.

 

Results:
More than half of our study population were aged (above 65 years), 56% female and three fourth were White. Seventy five percent of study subjects (N=297) were diagnosed as asthmatic, 69% were overweight or obese while thirty-five percent had higher levels of factor VIII. Among patients with a higher level of factor VIII, two third were asthmatic and one third were not asthmatic.

 

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being in age groups <65, overweight, Asthmatic, high levels of homocysteine and d-dimer were associated with higher level of factor VIII after controlling for all the associated risk factors and co-morbidities.

 

Compared to older adults young patients were 40%, and asthmatic patients were 48% less likely to be associated with higher level of factor VIII (P=0.000). With every unit increase of BMI, there is about 4% increase in odds of having a higher factor VIII level (P=0.004). Patients with higher levels of d-dimer and homocystein had two and half times odds of having a higher level of factor VIII (P=0.001).

 

Conclusion:
Young age and asthma were negatively associated with higher level of factor 8, while being heavy, high BMI, higher levels of D-dimer and homocystein were significant risk factors for thrombotic tendency. Additional studies and data analysis will play crucial role in further understanding of the relationship of risk factors with thrombotic phenomenon.

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