Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein
Published on: October 12, 2017
Prognostic value of lipoprotein fractions in essential hypertension
Paolo Verdecchia1, Gianpaolo Reboldi, Fabio Angeli
1Ospedale R Silvestrini, Dipartimento Malattie Cardiovascolari, Italy. verdec@tin.it
Insights
In essential hypertension, abnormal cholesterol and lipoprotein levels are frequent. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) independently predict cardiac events, not cerebrovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Lipid Metabolism
Background:
- Essential hypertension is a common condition with significant cardiovascular implications.
- Lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC) and lipoprotein fractions, are crucial markers for cardiovascular risk assessment.
- Understanding the distribution and prognostic value of these lipid markers in hypertensive patients is vital for risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of total cholesterol (TC) and lipoprotein fractions in patients with essential hypertension.
- To determine if lipid abnormalities predict cardiac and cerebrovascular events in this population.
- To assess the independence of lipid markers' predictive value from other risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 2649 untreated essential hypertension patients.
- Baseline investigation of lipid profiles (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides) and blood pressure.
- Follow-up for a mean of 5.6 years to record cardiac and cerebrovascular events.
Main Results:
- Abnormalities in TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C ratio were present in 47.7% of subjects at baseline.
- TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C ratio were associated with cardiac events, but not cerebrovascular events.
- Adjusted analyses revealed that low HDL-C and high LDL-C independently predicted cardiac events, with hazard ratios of 2.23 and 2.83, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Abnormalities in total cholesterol and lipoproteins are common in essential hypertension.
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are independent predictors of cardiac events, but not cerebrovascular events.
- The predictive value of HDL-C and LDL-C for cardiac events is independent of confounding factors like left ventricular hypertrophy and ambulatory blood pressure.
Background:
To evaluate distribution and prognostic value of total cholesterol and lipoprotein fractions in essential hypertension.
Methods:
In a prospective cohort study, 2649 initially untreated subjects with essential hypertension (aged 51, 46.5% women) were investigated at entry and followed for a mean of 5.6 years (range: 1-16).
Results:
At entry, subjects with total cholesterol (TC) > or =240 mg/dl (> or =6.22 mmol/l) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C) <40 mg/dl (1.05 mmol/l) or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) > or =160 mg/dl (4.13 mmol/l) or TC/HDL-C ratio >6 were 47.7%. TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides (TG) did not show any association with office or 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP). During follow-up there were 167 first cardiac events and 122 first cerebrovascular events. TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio showed an association with cardiac events, but not with cerebrovascular events. TG did not show any association with cardiac or cerebrovascular events. After adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, smoking, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and 24-h pulse pressure, the hazard ratio for cardiac events was 1.83 (95% CI 1.23-2.71) in association with a TC > or =6.22 mmol/l, 2.23 with a HDL-C <1.05 mmol/l (95% CI 1.06-4.70), 2.83 with a LDL-C > or =4.91 mmol/l (95% CI 1.48-5.42) and 3.90 with a TC/HDL-C ratio >6.0 (95% CI 2.23-6.81). When forced in the same model, HDL-C and LDL-C showed an independent association with cardiac events.
Conclusions:
Abnormalities of TC and lipoproteins are common in essential hypertension. HDL-C and LDL-C independently predict the risk of cardiac, but not cerebrovascular, events. Their predictive value is independent of several confounding factors including LV hypertrophy and ambulatory BP.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:29Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...