White cell counts in relation to mortality in a general population of cohort study in the Netherlands: a mediating effect or not?

BACKGROUND: White cell count (WCC) is a clinical marker of inflammation. Data are limited regarding the association of total and differential WCC with risk of mortality, and its role related with smoking and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: A total of 14 433 participants (4150 men; 10 283 women; average age 47.3±11.8 years) from the Dutch European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands cohort were included. The associations between prediagnostic total WCC and its subtypes and risk of all-cause, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were assessed. The role of... Mehr ...