Men in the highest quartile of baseline IL-6 concentration had a 2.3 times higher risk of future myocardial infarction compared to those in the lowest quartile.
Cohort (n=14,916)
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Does elevated baseline IL-6 increase the risk of future myocardial infarction in apparently healthy men?
Elevated baseline levels of IL-6 in apparently healthy men are associated with a significantly increased risk of future myocardial infarction, supporting the role of inflammation in early atherogenesis.
Effect estimate: RR 2.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.3)
Absolute Event Rate: 1.81% vs 1.46%
p-value: p=0.005
Background —Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a central role in inflammation and tissue injury. However, epidemiological data evaluating the role of IL-6 in atherogenesis are sparse. Methods and Results —In a prospective study involving 14 916 apparently healthy men, we measured baseline plasma concentration of IL-6 in 202 participants who subsequently developed myocardial infarction (MI) and in 202 study participants matched for age and smoking status who did not report vascular disease during a 6-year follow-up. Median concentrations of IL-6 at baseline were higher among men who subsequently had an MI than among those who did not (1.81 versus 1.46 pg/mL; P =0.002). The risk of future MI increased with increasing quartiles of baseline IL-6 concentration ( P for trend <0.001) such that men in the highest quartile at entry had a relative risk 2.3 times higher than those in the lowest quartile (95% CI 1.3 to 4.3, P =0.005); for each quartile increase in IL-6, there was a 38% increase in risk ( P =0.001).This relationship remained significant after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, was stable over long periods of follow-up, and was present in all low-risk subgroups, including nonsmokers. Although the strongest correlate of IL-6 in these data was C-reactive protein ( r =0.43, P <0.001), the relationship of IL-6 with subsequent risk remained after control for this factor ( P <0.001). Conclusions —In apparently healthy men, elevated levels of IL-6 are associated with increased risk of future MI. These data thus support a role for cytokine-mediated inflammation in the early stages of atherogenesis.
Ridker et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Myocardial Infarction (n=14,916). Plasma IL-6 concentration vs. null was evaluated on Risk of future myocardial infarction (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.3, p=0.005). Men in the highest quartile of baseline IL-6 concentration had a 2.3 times higher risk of future myocardial infarction compared to those in the lowest quartile.