Serum lipid profiles with and without CAD: Jordan Hyperlipidaemia and Related Targets Study (JoHARTS-1)

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Lipid Metabolism
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
• Lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, HDL-C), are critical indicators of cardiovascular risk.
• Understanding population-level lipid profiles and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD) is essential for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze fasting serum lipid levels (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C) in a large cohort.
• To compare lipid profiles between men and women.
• To investigate the relationship between lipid levels and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 5000 individuals.
• Measurement of fasting serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C.
• Statistical analysis to compare lipid levels based on sex and CAD status.

Main Results:

• Men generally had lower TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C, but higher TG compared to women.
• Optimal lipid levels were infrequent: only 46% of men and 41% of women had optimal TC; optimal TG was seen in 42% of men and 50% of women.
• Low HDL-C (< 60 mg/dL) was observed in the majority of both sexes (97% of men, 88% of women).
• CAD patients had significantly higher TG and lower HDL-C than non-CAD individuals; TC levels did not differ.
• Low HDL-C was more prevalent in individuals with CAD across all age groups.

Conclusions:

• Suboptimal lipid profiles are prevalent in the general population, with distinct sex-based differences.
• Low HDL-C is a significant risk factor associated with CAD, irrespective of age.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve lipid management and reduce CAD risk.