Fasting triglycerides as a predictor of long-term mortality in middle-aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia

To study cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking and blood pressure as potential predictors of long-term mortality in middle-aged males with combined hyperlipidaemia.

The study included 104 healthy men aged 40-49 years with total serum cholesterol >6.45 mmol/L and fasting triglycerides >2.55 mmol/L within the randomized diet and smoking cessation trial of the Oslo study (n=1232).

Thirty-three subjects died during the 24-year observation period. Univariate analysis showed that only age, fasting triglycerides and smoking were significantly related to mortality. An analysis for trend through quartiles of triglycerides showed a statistically significant association with mortality (p=0.049). Subjects in the lowest triglyceride quartile (2.55-2.75 mmol/L) had a 70%, reduction in mortality compared with the remaining subjects (>2.75 mmol/L) (RR=0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.90, p=0.014). Non-smokers had a 60% reduced mortality compared with smokers (RR=0.40, 95% CI 0.17-0.94, p=0.019). When studied in a Cox regression analysis, with age, triglycerides and smoking as independent variables, triglycerides were significantly related to mortality, 1st quartile vs. 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles: risk rate=0.24, (95% CI 0.07-0.77, p=0.02). For non-smokers vs. smokers, the Cox analysis showed a risk rate=0.39, (95% CI 0.15-1.02, p=0.054).

This study indicates that high levels of fasting triglycerides (>2.75 mmol) are independently associated with increased late mortality in healthy middle-aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia.