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Published on: August 28, 2018
Association of remnant cholesterol with coronary artery ectasia: a cross-sectional study
Jing Mu1,2, Yihan Weng2,3, Jiquan Xiao2,4
1Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
Elevated remnant cholesterol (RC) levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of coronary artery ectasia (CAE). This finding suggests RC may be a key factor in CAE development and warrants further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Research
Background:
- Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) involves abnormal widening of coronary arteries.
- The causes of CAE are not fully understood, and most patients are asymptomatic.
- Identifying risk factors for CAE is crucial for early detection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential association between remnant cholesterol (RC) levels and the risk of developing coronary artery ectasia (CAE).
- To explore RC as a potential biomarker or contributing factor in CAE pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 679 patients undergoing coronary angiography.
- Categorization into 260 CAE patients and 419 controls.
- Calculation of remnant cholesterol (RC) using the formula: TC - HDL-C - LDL-C.
- Multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between RC and CAE risk.
Main Results:
- Patients with CAE exhibited significantly higher RC levels compared to controls (P=0.001).
- A positive association was found between RC levels and CAE risk (OR=1.950, 95% CI: 1.163-3.270).
- This association persisted across different CAE presentations and in hypertensive subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Remnant cholesterol (RC) levels are positively correlated with the risk of coronary artery ectasia (CAE).
- Targeting RC may offer new avenues for research and clinical strategies in managing CAE.
Objective:
Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a condition characterized by the localized or widespread dilation of one or more coronary arteries. The majority of CAE patients do not present with clinical symptoms, and the exact cause of CAE remains unclear. Therefore, a retrospective analysis was conducted to explore the potential causes of CAE.
Methods:
This study was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent coronary angiography at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between January 2017 and July 2022, of whom 679 patients were ultimately enrolled in the study. Among them, 260 patients were diagnosed with CAE, whereas 419 patients with normal coronary results composed the control group. Remnant cholesterol (RC) was calculated as total cholesterol (TC) minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The association between RC levels and the risk of CAE was assessed via multivariable logistic models.
Results:
Out of the 679 patients who participated in this study, with an average age of 59.9 years, 38.3% were diagnosed with CAE. Patients with CAE had higher RC levels than did those without CAE (P = 0.001). A significant positive association was observed between RC levels and the risk of CAE, with a multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.950 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.163-3.270). There was a significant positive association between RC levels and the risk of CAE in both single-vessel and multivessel dilation cases, as well as in isolated CAE and dilation secondary to coronary atherosclerosis. According to the subgroup analyses, RC levels were positively associated with the risk of CAE in participants with hypertension (OR, 1.065; 95% CI, 1.034-1.098).
Conclusion:
RC levels are positively correlated with CAE, implying that a focus on RC could be beneficial in CAE research.
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