Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men

To assess prospectively whether plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nested case-control study among 18 225 male participants of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study aged 40 to 75 years who were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at the time of blood draw (1993-1995). During 6 years of follow-up through January 31, 2000, 266 men subsequently developed nonfatal MI or fatal coronary heart disease. Using risk set sampling, controls were selected in a 2:1 ratio matched for age, date of blood draw, and smoking status (n = 532). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of nonfatal MI and fatal coronary heart disease by adiponectin level.

After adjustment for matched variables, participants in the highest compared with the lowest quintile of adiponectin levels had a significantly decreased risk of MI (relative risk [RR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.64; P for trend