Biomarkers · Hematology
White Blood Cell Count (WBC)
Lower values carry lower risk. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation is associated with a hazard ratio of 1.20. Reproduces in NHANES
NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve
Hazard ratios relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.
NHANES hazard per SD1.2095% CI 1.17–1.22 · 49,104 adults, 7,188 deaths
Published hazard ratio1.44top vs bottom quarter (95% CI 1.22–1.70) · Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Where people sit
Population percentiles (10^3 cells/uL) by sex and age band. Cycle or source as recorded in the catalogue.
| Sex | Age | 5th | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th | n | Cycle / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 20-39 | 4.20 | 5.70 | 6.90 | 8.30 | 11.1 | 2,710 | 2017-2018 |
| All | 40-59 | 4.40 | 5.90 | 7.10 | 8.50 | 11.5 | 2,670 | 2017-2018 |
| All | 60+ | 4.30 | 5.80 | 7.00 | 8.50 | 11.4 | 2,820 | 2017-2018 |
| All | all | 4.30 | 5.80 | 7.00 | 8.40 | 11.3 | 8,200 | 2017-2018 |
| Men | all | 4.30 | 5.80 | 7.00 | 8.50 | 11.5 | 3,980 | 2017-2018 |
| Women | all | 4.30 | 5.80 | 6.90 | 8.30 | 11.2 | 4,220 | 2017-2018 |
What studies found when this marker was changed
Effects on the biomarker reported in the cited studies. They describe what happened in those populations, not a recommendation for anyone. See all catalogued interventions.
| Type | Intervention | Reported effect | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| behavioral | Smoking cessation and reduction of visceral adiposity | Lowers elevated WBC count by 1.5-2.5 x 10^3 cells/uL into optimal 4.5-6.5 range | cohort | National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination… |
| behavioral | Smoking cessation | -1.5 to -3.0 × 10³/µL drop towards non-smoker baseline | prospective cohort | Bain BJ. Br J Haematol. 1996;95:439-446. |
| clinical | Targeted treatment of chronic focal infections (dental / sinus) | -1.0 to -2.5 × 10³/µL normalization | systematic review | Tonetti MS, et al. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:911-920. |
| clinical | Severe acute bacterial infection or septic shock | +10.0 to +30.0 × 10³/µL marked leukocytosis (>15.0 × 10³/µL) | clinical guideline | Singer M, et al. JAMA. 2016;315:801-810. |
| diet | Anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet and exercise | -0.8 to -1.8 × 10³/µL reduction | rct | Esposito K, et al. JAMA. 2004;292:1440-1446. |
| pharmacologic | Myelosuppressive chemotherapy or aplastic bone marrow failure | -3.0 to -5.5 × 10³/µL severe leukopenia / neutropenia (<1.5 × 10³/µL) | clinical guideline | Freifeld AG, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52:e56-e93. |
Sources
- Hazard curve: Arch Intern Med 2005; 165:1908
- Lee CD, et al. Total and differential white blood cell counts, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in middle-aged men and women: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Atherosclerosis. 2001;154(3):729-736.
- Empirical curve: our Cox model with age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.