Association between non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal middle-aged women

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Lipidology
• Women's Health

Background:

• The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C/HDL-C) ratio is a novel lipid marker integrating atherogenic and antiatherogenic particle information.
• The association between the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) in postmenopausal women remains uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and the presence of CAP in postmenopausal women undergoing primary prevention.
• To evaluate the predictive capability of the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio for CAP detection.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 440 postmenopausal women (age ≤ 70 years) in primary prevention was recruited.
• Carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) was assessed using ultrasonography.
• Association between the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and CAP presence was analyzed using logistic regression and ROC curve analysis.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was observed between increasing quintiles of the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and CAP prevalence (p < 0.001).
• Higher non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios were independently associated with an increased likelihood of CAP (OR 1.30, p = 0.009).
• The non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio demonstrated a predictive value for CAP detection with an Area Under the Curve of 0.703, and an optimal cut-off of 3.0.

Conclusions:

• The non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio shows potential as a valuable marker for predicting carotid atherosclerotic plaque risk in postmenopausal women.
• This lipid ratio may aid in identifying individuals at higher risk for subclinical atherosclerosis, facilitating targeted preventive strategies.