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Aim: To examine and compare the predictive value of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios for future cardiovascular outcomes in the general Japanese population. Methods: A total of 24,566 eligible participants aged 18 years or older, without cardiovascular disease, were enrolled through multiphase health screening and divided into quartile groups based on lipoprotein levels or ratios. Primary endpoints of the study were definitive acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic stroke, and cases of sudden death with unknown causes were not included. We used Cox proportional hazard models to examine the relationships between the quartiles and incidences of AMI or ischemic stroke, adjusting for traditional risk factors. Results: Mean age was 63.7 years for males and 60.7 years for females. Mean follow-up period was 2.7 years, and 40 cases of AMI and 182 cases of ischemic stroke were recorded. The hazard ratio (HR) for AMI was significantly higher in the top quartile of the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and LDL-C levels, and third quartile of TC among male participants. The HR of male participants with a LDL-C/HDL-C ratio of 2.6 or higher was significantly higher than other quartiles. No association between lipoprotein levels or their ratio quartiles and ischemic stroke was seen for either sex after adjusting for risk factors. Conclusions: Our results indicated that the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is an independent predictor for AMI, and the importance of better management of cardiovascular risks among people with high LDLC/HDLC ratios for the prevention of future cardiovascular disease. J Atheroscler Thromb, 2011; 18:89-98.

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BackgroundUsing data from a large-scale community-based Japanese population, we attempted to identify factors associated with tooth loss in middle-aged and elderly men.MethodsA total of 8352 men aged 40 to 79 years who lived in the north of the main island of Japan and underwent health checkups were enrolled between 2002 and 2005. Number of teeth was assessed by the question, “How many teeth do you have (0, 1–9, 10–19, or ≥20)?”. On the basis of the answer to this question, participants were classified into 2 groups (≤19 teeth or ≥20 teeth). Using multivariate logistic regression, factors related to having 19 or fewer teeth were estimated.ResultsThe numbers (percentages) of participants who had 0, 1 to 9, 10 to 19, and 20 or more teeth were 1764 (21.1%), 1779 (21.3%), 1836 (22.0%), and 2973 (35.6%), respectively. Among the participants overall and those aged 65 to 79 years, having 19 or fewer teeth was significantly associated with older age, smoking status (current smoking and ex-smoking), and low education level. In addition, men with 19 or fewer teeth were more likely to have a low body mass index and low serum albumin level and less likely to be current alcohol drinkers. Among men aged 40 to 64 years, but not men aged 65 to 79 years, those with 19 or fewer teeth were more likely to have a low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and high glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level.ConclusionsSmoking, low education level, and poor nutritional status were associated with tooth loss among middle-aged and elderly Japanese men.

AF affects stroke mortality, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality in the Japanese general population. Careful attention should be paid to persons with AF in order to prevent future cardiovascular events.

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