Abstract 15450: Plasma Levels of Fatty Acid-binding Protein 4 and Cardiovascular Mortality Among Diabetes Patients: a Prospective Investigation in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study

Background: Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) is highly expressed in adipocytes and macrophages. Animal studies and limited human evidence from general populations have suggested a positive association between circulating FABP4 levels and an array of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, though little prospective evidence exists regarding FABP4 levels in relation to CVD mortality among patients with diabetes. FABP4 expression is regulated by free fatty acids and insulin, both of which are elevated in patients with diabetes or insulin resistance. Therefore, we want to examine whether FABP4 may explain the particularly high CVD mortality observed among diabetics. Methods: We measured plasma FABP4 levels among 950 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and reported having diabetes through 2004. Linear regression models were applied to evaluate the association between FABP4 levels and CVD risk factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD mortality were computed using Cox proportional haza...