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Background: Apolipoprotein B (apo B) has been reported to be a better predictor of coronary artery disease than cholesterol indices. The objectives of this study were to evaluate concordances/discordances between cholesterol indices and apo B and to assess the factors that influence them. Methods: For this study, 11 816 individuals (6965 males, 4851 females), none of whom had a past history of coronary artery disease, were selected from among visitors to the health promotion center at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between January and December 2002. We assessed concordances between the biochemical indices of atherogenicity and evaluated factors associated with discordances. Results: Apo B and various cholesterol indices were correlated, although concordance fell within the range 47%-56%. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed an increasing risk of a disproportionately higher apo B than LDL-cholesterol in males, the elderly, smokers, individuals with metabolic syndrome, in those with high HDL-cholesterol or triglyceride (TG) concentrations or larger waist circumferences, and in those with low total cholesterol (TC). Conclusions: The introduction of apo B to standard lipid profile testing could improve the evaluation of risk factors of coronary artery disease and aid more accurate assessment of the effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy, particularly in males, the elderly, smokers, or in individuals with metabolic syndrome, high HDL-cholesterol, high TGs, larger waist circumferences, or low TC.

Background and Objectives：The relationship between serum uric acid and metabolic syndrome variables has not been reported in Korea. Therefore, whether the circulating levels of serum uric acid are independently related to hypertension, insulin resistance and the variables of metabolic syndrome were assessed. Subjects and Methods：A total of 53,477 health screen examinees were enrolled and divided into four groups (Quartile 1：<4.2 mg/dL, Quartile 2：4.2-5.29 mg/dL, Quartile 3：5.3-6.29 mg/dL, Quartile 4：>6.29 mg/dL) according to their serum uric acid level. The blood pressure, lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference, HOMA, high sensitivity CRP and apolipoprotein were compared between the four groups. Results：There was a positive association between blood pressure and the serum uric acid level (p<0.001). After adjustment for covariates the prevalence of hypertension due to uric acid was 1.192 (95% CI, 1.038-1.368 p=0.013), and 1.408 (95% CI, 1.221-1.623 p<0.001) times higher in subjects in the third and fourth uric acid level quartiles, respectively, compared to the subjects in the first quartile. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome variables were positively correlated with the serum uric acid level. The number of metabolic syndrome variables was also increased with an elevated serum uric acid level. Conclusion：Our study suggests that serum uric acid levels were independently associated with hypertension, insulin resistance and the variables of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population. Although the serum uric acid level was normal value, the risk of metabolic syndrome was increased with an elevated serum uric acid level. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of our study, these findings should be confirmed in prospective cohort studies. (Korean Circulation J 2004;34(9):874-882)

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Background and Objectives：Apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) has been reported to be a better predictor of the coronary artery disease (CAD) than the cholesterol indexes. The aim of this study was to examine the concordance/discordance between the apolipoprotein B levels and the cholesterol indexes, and to assess the factors affecting the discordance. Subjects and Methods：A total of 11,816 participants (6,965 men and 4,851 women) were enrolled in this study from all the individuals who participated in medical screening examinations at the health promotion center in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from January to December 2002. All the participants had no history of coronary artery disease. We assessed the concordance between the biochemical parameters of the atherogenic indexes, and we evaluated the factors affecting the discordance. Results：Despite the fact that the Apo-B and the various cholesterol indexes were highly correlated, the concordance rate was merely 47-56%. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed the possibility of an increased risk for the group of discordance in whom Apo-B level was disproportionately higher than LDL cholesterol in the elderly, the smokers, the men and the people having a larger waist circumference, a lower total cholesterol level, a higher triglyceride level and a higher HDL-C level. Conclusion：The measurement of apo B, along with the measurement of the standard lipid profile, could be a great help in evaluating the CAD risk and for aiding in the treatment of dyslipidemia in the elderly, the smokers, men and the people having a larger waist circumference, a lower total cholesterol level, a higher triglyceride level and a higher HDL-C level.