Predictive Value of Small Dense Low-Density Lipoprotein in Coronary Heart Disease in the Chinese Population

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Lipidology
• Public Health

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) poses a significant global health challenge.
• Accurate CHD risk assessment is crucial but remains difficult.
• The predictive capability of small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) for CHD risk in Chinese individuals requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) as an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.
• To compare the predictive performance of sdLDL alone against a combination of lipid parameters (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and sdLDL) in the Chinese population.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 139 patients with CHD and 58 healthy controls.
• Serum sdLDL levels were quantified using the peroxidase method.
• Standard lipid profiles, including triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), were also measured.

Main Results:

• Individuals with CHD exhibited significantly higher serum sdLDL levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001).
• Logistic regression analysis identified sdLDL as an independent risk factor for CHD.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.722 for sdLDL alone in predicting CHD.
• The combined AUC for TG, HDL, and sdLDL (0.763) was marginally higher than sdLDL alone but not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Serum sdLDL alone demonstrates efficient predictive capability for CHD risk, comparable to the combined assessment of TG, HDL, and sdLDL.
• These findings support the consideration of sdLDL as a valuable parameter for the preliminary diagnosis of CHD in the Chinese population.