Related Experiment Videos
Evidence that triglycerides are an independent coronary heart disease risk factor
1Institut für Arterioskleroseforschung, Zentrallaboratorium, Universität Münster, Germany. cullen@uni-muenster.de
Insights
High triglycerides are an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Managing hypertriglyceridemia is crucial for reducing cardiovascular disease risk and improving treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- The relationship between hypertriglyceridemia and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been historically uncertain.
- Recent large-scale studies and meta-analyses suggest hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the independent role of hypertriglyceridemia in the risk of coronary heart disease.
- To assess the impact of elevated triglyceride levels on cardiovascular disease risk in men and women.
Main Methods:
- Multivariate analysis of 8-year follow-up data from the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster study.
- Meta-analysis of 17 prospective trials on hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular disease.
- Review of findings from the Helsinki Heart Study, Stockholm Ischemic Heart Study, and Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Intervention Trial.
Main Results:
- Hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for major coronary events, even after controlling for LDL and HDL cholesterol.
- Elevated triglycerides, particularly with high LDL cholesterol and LDL:HDL ratio (>5), increase CHD risk significantly (approx. sixfold).
- A 1.0 mmol/L increase in plasma triglycerides significantly increases cardiovascular disease relative risk by ~30% in men and ~75% in women.
Conclusions:
- Hypertriglyceridemia plays a significant independent role in coronary heart disease risk.
- Lipid-lowering therapies targeting triglycerides show significant coronary benefit, especially in hypertriglyceridemic patients.
- Antihyperlipidemic treatment strategies should prioritize reducing elevated triglycerides for maximal CHD risk reduction.
Abstract:
In the past, the relation between hypertriglyceridemia and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been uncertain. However, a recent multivariate analysis of 8-year follow-up data from the large-scale Prospective Cardiovascular Münster study found hypertriglyceridemia to be an independent risk factor for major coronary events after controlling for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Hypertriglyceridemia combined with elevated LDL cholesterol and high LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio (>5) increased the CHD event risk by approximately sixfold. Similarly, a large meta-analysis of 17 prospective trials reported hypertriglyceridemia to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In this study, an 88 mg/dl (1.0 mmol/L) increase in plasma triglyceride levels significantly increased the relative risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately 30% in men and 75% in women; the corresponding rates were somewhat lower (14% and 37%) but still statistically significant after adjustment for HDL cholesterol level. These data and observations from patients in the Helsinki Heart Study and the Stockholm Ischemic Heart study, that the greatest coronary benefit during lipid-lowering drug therapy occurred among hypertriglyceridemic patients, argue strongly for an independent role for hypertriglyceridemia in CHD risk. In the recent Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Intervention Trial, the use of gemfibrozil to raise HDL cholesterol levels and lower levels of triglycerides without lowering LDL cholesterol levels reduced coronary events in men with established CHD, whereas preliminary results from the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention Trial indicate a reduction in coronary end points in patients with elevated baseline triglyceride levels. To achieve the greatest possible reduction in CHD risk, antihyperlipidemic treatment strategies should also be aimed at reducing elevated triglycerides.