Age and Cardiovascular Risk Attributable to Apolipoprotein B, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol or Non-High-Density...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Lipid Metabolism
• Gerontology

Background:

• Elevated apolipoprotein B (apoB) lipoproteins are a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• The age-dependent variation in CVD risk associated with apoB has not been extensively studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various lipid markers and myocardial infarction (MI) risk across different age groups.
• To determine if the cardiovascular risk conferred by apoB-containing lipoproteins changes with age.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of lipid profiles (total cholesterol, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apoB, apoA-I, HDL-C) in 11,760 controls and 8,998 MI cases from the INTERHEART Study.
• Logistic regression used to calculate odds ratios for MI per 1 SD change in lipid markers, stratified by age decades (<40 to >70 years).

Main Results:

• Atherogenic lipid markers (total cholesterol, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apoB) were higher in MI cases than controls, except in individuals >70 years.
• These atherogenic markers decreased with age, while protective markers (apoA-I, HDL-C) increased with age.
• The odds ratio for MI associated with atherogenic lipids significantly declined with increasing age, whereas risk associated with apoA-I and HDL-C remained consistent.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular event risk from apoB particles is significantly higher in younger individuals compared to older individuals.
• The findings support greater relative benefits of LDL-lowering therapy in younger populations, advocating for treatment in younger individuals with lipid abnormalities.