Risk of cardiovascular mortality in relation to optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol combined with

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Elena V Kuklina1, Nora L Keenan, William M Callaghan

  • 1Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. ekuklina@cdc.gov

Annals of Epidemiology
|October 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hypertriglyceridemia significantly increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in women, but not men, even with optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This finding highlights gender-specific risks for CVD mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
  • Understanding the interplay of lipid profiles, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), is crucial for risk stratification.
  • Gender-specific differences in CVD risk factors and outcomes are increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between optimal LDL-C combined with hypertriglyceridemia and CVD mortality.
  • To determine if this association differs between men and women.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 2903 U.S. adults (men ≥45 years, women ≥55 years) from NHANES III (1988-1994) was followed for CVD mortality through 2006.
  • Lipid levels (LDL-C, TG) were defined using NCEP ATP III guidelines.
  • Cox proportional hazard models were employed to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

  • Women with optimal LDL-C and hypertriglyceridemia had approximately double the risk of CVD death (HR=2.42, 95% CI=1.35-4.33) compared to women with optimal LDL-C and normal TG, after adjusting for confounders.
  • No significant association between optimal LDL-C/hypertriglyceridemia and CVD mortality was observed in men.

Conclusions:

  • Hypertriglyceridemia, independent of LDL-C levels, is linked to increased CVD mortality risk specifically in women.
  • These findings suggest gender-based nuances in the cardiovascular impact of lipid abnormalities.
  • Further research into gender-specific CVD prevention strategies targeting triglyceride levels is warranted.
Abstract

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