Sex-specific associations between systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure and hemostatic parameters in the population-based KORA-Fit study: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Thrombosis journal Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 7
• Main Authors: Vogel von Falckenstein, J, Freuer, D, Peters, A, Heier, M, Linseisen, J, Meisinger, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 19.01.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Alcohol; Analysis; Apixaban; Atherosclerosis; Blood; Blood coagulation factor VIII; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Coagulation; Cross-sectional studies; Data collection; Diabetes; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; General population; High density lipoprotein; Hypertension; Investigations; KORA study; Leisure; Medical examination; Mortality; Normal distribution; Population-based studies; Protein C; Proteins; Rivaroxaban; Sexes; Socioeconomic factors; Variables; Winter; Womens health; Germany; Hypertension; KORA study; General population; Blood pressure; Coagulation
• ISSN: 1477-9560; 1477-9560
• DOI: 10.1186/s12959-023-00451-0

Several prior studies postulated an effect of hypertension on coagulation factors. However, population-based studies investigating the sex-specific associations between hypertension and hemostatic parameters are scarce. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between blood pressure and parameters of coagulation, namely activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR), fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, and D-dimer in men and women from the general population. Based on 803 participants (376 men, 427 women) from the KORA-Fit Study the sex-specific relationship between systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure and commonly measured coagulation factors were investigated using multivariable-adjusted linear regression models. Hypertensive males had significantly higher median fibrinogen levels and factor VIII activity in comparison to normotensive males. There was a statistically significant difference between females with and without hypertension regarding the parameter fibrinogen, D-dimers, Protein S activity, and factor VIII activity. In multivariable linear regression analyses no significant association between systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, as well as pulse pressure and the investigated hemostatic parameters was found in men. In women, a significant positive association could be observed between systolic blood pressure and D-dimer level [β-estimate per mmHg increase 3.37 (95% CI 0.935-5.804; p = 0.007)] and between pulse pressure and D-dimer level [β-estimate per mmHg increase 5.351 (95% CI 1.772-8.930; p = 0.003)]. It appears that sex differences exist in the association between blood pressure parameters and commonly measured coagulation markers in the general population. Further studies are needed to identify the underlying causes.