Hematological parameters and early-onset coronary artery disease: a retrospective case–control study based on 3366 participants

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis and inflammation are crucial elements in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Hematological parameters elucidate information involving the inflammatory and blood coagulation processes. OBJECTIVES: The current study explored the association of hematological parameters with EOCAD to identify specific risk factors. DESIGN: A single-center retrospective case–control study was conducted with 1693 coronary artery disease patients and 1693 controls. METHODS: Hematological parameters were examined through an automated analyzer. RESULTS: The basophil percentage was significantly reduced in EOCAD (0.43 ± 0.26, p < 0.001) and MI (0.33 ± 0.24, p < 0.001) groups compared with controls (0.54 ± 0.28). The eosinophil percentage was also significantly lower in EOCAD (2.21 ± 1.71, p < 0.001) and MI (1.71 ± 2.44, p < 0.001) groups compared with controls (2.41 ± 1.75). The lymphocyte percentage in patients of EOCAD and MI and controls was 31.65 ± 7.93, 25.48 ± 9.43, and 34.82 ± 7.28, respectively. A significant difference was observed among the groups (p < 0.001). Except for the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), other red blood cell (RBC) parameters significantly differed between EOCAD patients and controls. The red blood cell distribution width (RDW), hematocrit (HCT), RBC count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and hemoglobin level were associated with EOCAD prevalence after adjusting for baseline differences. Platelet volume distribution width (PDW) also correlated with EOCAD prevalence (OR(adjust) = 1.087, 95% CI: 1.044–1.131). CONCLUSIONS: Hematological parameters are closely associated with EOCAD. Moreover, leukocyte parameters correlated with the presence and severity of the disease. In addition, erythrocyte parameters were associated with the disease presence but not with the disease severity. Among the platelet parameters, only PDW was related to the disease presence.