Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
Associations between plasma ceramides and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease
Qing Li1, Xu Wang1, Juan Pang1
1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China.
Insights
Plasma ceramides are linked to increased mortality risk in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Specific ceramide ratios and a ceramide risk score can identify individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular and all-cause death.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- The association between ceramides and mortality risk in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients is not well-established.
- This study investigates the link between plasma ceramides and mortality in a CAD patient cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if plasma ceramides are associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk in patients with CAD.
- To explore the predictive value of specific ceramide ratios and a ceramide risk score.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 1704 CAD patients.
- Plasma ceramides (C16:0, C18:0, C24:0, C24:1) measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).
- Cox regression models used to assess associations with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality over a median 9.3-year follow-up.
Main Results:
- Elevated levels of C16:0, C18:0, and C24:1 ceramides, and their ratios with C24:0, were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
- A higher ceramide risk score correlated with substantially increased risks of both cardiovascular (1.81-fold) and all-cause mortality (1.95-fold).
- Each 1-point increase in the ceramide risk score was associated with a 9% increase in mortality risk.
Conclusions:
- Specific ceramides and their ratios are significant predictors of mortality in CAD patients.
- The findings suggest potential clinical utility of ceramides for risk stratification in CAD.
- Further research is needed to confirm the diagnostic value of ceramides for identifying high-risk individuals.
Background And Aims:
The relationship between ceramides and the risk of mortality among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently relatively sparse. This prospective study aimed to clarify whether plasma ceramides are associated with greater risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality among CAD patients.
Methods:
Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to measure plasma ceramides, C16:0, C18:0, C24:0, and C24:1, in 1704 CAD patients. Cox regression models were used to estimate the association between ceramides and the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
Results:
During the median 9.3-year follow-up, 396 all-cause deaths occurred, of which 253 were cardiovascular deaths. Plasma C16:0, C18:0 and C24:1 ceramides and their ratios with C24:0 ceramide were significantly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. After multivariable adjusted, for 1-SD increases of C16:0/C24:0, C18:0/C24:0, and C24:1/C24:0 ratios, the risk of cardiovascular mortality increased by 27%, 35%, and 21%, and the risk of all-cause mortality increased by 29%, 28%, and 24%, respectively. Patients with higher ceramide risk score had 1.81-fold (95%CI, 1.24-2.64) and 1.95-fold (95%CI, 1.43-2.65) risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, respectively, compared to patients with lower ceramide risk score. The risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality increased by 9% for 1-point increment in the ceramide risk score. Subgroup analyses did not substantially modify the results.
Conclusions:
Our study documented that distinct ceramides were significantly associated with the risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in CAD patients. Further studies are warranted to determine the clinical diagnostic value of distinct ceramides in identifying patients at risk of mortality.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology