Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T09:33:08.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

SOCIAL NETWORK IN RELATION TO PLASMA FIBRINOGEN

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2001

ANNELI HELMINEN
Affiliation:
Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland
TUOMO RANKINEN
Affiliation:
Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland
SARI VÄISÄNEN
Affiliation:
Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland
RAINER RAURAMAA
Affiliation:
Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland

Abstract

Consistent findings about the inverse association of social network level with coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity suggest the importance of investigating biological pathways of association. Differences in plasma fibrinogen level were investigated among middle-aged men with weak and strong structural and functional social network ties. Men with low scores in the adequacy of social participation variable (structural) had higher mean values of plasma fibrinogen than those with high scores. The difference remained after adjustment for age, smoking and cardiovascular health status and after possible modifying factors were taken into account, but did not remain significant after allowing for physical fitness. Men with high scores in overall support (functional) had higher plasma fibrinogen levels compared to the men with low scores. This difference persisted after age and cardiovascular health status were taken into account but was explained by smoking. The data suggest that smoking and cardiorespiratory fitness are important mediating or modifying factors between structural and functional aspects of social network ties and plasma fibrinogen.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)