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Plasma homocysteine: an independent or an interactive risk factor for coronary artery disease

Mili Gupta1, Priyanka Sharma, Gitanjali Garg

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. miligupta8@yahoo.com

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|January 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Elevated plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), significantly increasing risk alongside age, hypertension, and smoking. Effective strategies are needed to manage this growing public health challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) poses a significant public health challenge, especially in developing nations.
  • Conventional risk factors do not fully explain increased CAD mortality, particularly in Asian populations.
  • The role of elevated plasma homocysteine as a CAD risk factor and its interactions require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between plasma homocysteine levels and coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • To determine if plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for CAD.
  • To explore the interaction of plasma homocysteine with other established CAD risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 100 CAD patients and 50 controls.
  • Measurement of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Main Results:

  • Plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in CAD patients compared to controls (p<0.001).
  • Univariate analysis identified smoking, hypertension, plasma cholesterol, and homocysteine as significant risk factors.
  • Multiple logistic regression confirmed hypertension, plasma cholesterol, and homocysteine as independent risk factors for CAD (p<0.005).
  • Significant interactions were observed between homocysteine levels and increasing age, hypertension, and smoking.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease.
  • Plasma homocysteine exacerbates the risk associated with age, hypertension, and smoking.
  • Addressing elevated homocysteine levels is crucial for managing CAD risk and requires urgent strategic interventions.
Abstract

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