Use of lipid parameters to identify apparently healthy men at high risk of arterial stiffness progression

Abstract

Background Dyslipidemia contributes to the development and progression of arterial stiffness. We aimed to identify the most informative measures of serum lipids and their calculated ratios in terms of arterial stiffness progression risk. Methods Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) of 659 healthy males (47.4 ± 10.7 years) were measured at baseline. Values for non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C/HDL-C were calculated. BaPWV was re-performed after 4.1 years follow-up. Elevated baPWV was defined as baPWV ≥ 1400 cm/s. Results Over the follow-up period, the mean baPWV value increased from 1340 cm/s to 1410 cm/s, and 331 individuals increased/persisted with high baPWV (outcome 1). Among the 448 subjects who had normal baseline baPWV, 100 incident elevated baPWV occurred (outcome 2). Only baseline logTG (OR 1.64 [95% CI: 1.14–2.37] for outcome 1; 1.89 [1.14–3.17] for outcome 2) and logTG/HDL-C (1.54 [1.15–2.10] for outcome 1; 1.60 [1.05–2.45] for outcome 2) were significantly associated with arterial stiffness progression after adjusting for confounding factors. Adding logTG or logTG/HDL-C to age and blood pressure improved the accuracy of risk predictions for arterial stiffness progression. These associations remained significant when lipids were analyzed as categorical variables. Conclusions Baseline serum TG and TG/HDL-C were independently associated with increases in/persistently high baPWV and incident elevated baPWV, and they performed more effectively than other lipid variables in identifying healthy men at high risk of arterial stiffness progression.

Association Between Lipids and Arterial Stiffness for Primary Cardiovascular Prevention in a General Middle-Aged European Population

“…Our study shows that TG/HDL was more often associated than other lipid parameters (such as isolated lipids and other lipid ratios) with ASI in a middle-aged population free of CV disease. This result was consistent with other studies in young, healthy populations ( 22 , 46 ). Lp(a) was not associated with AS in our study, in concordance with other recent studies ( 49 ).…”

“…Moreover, in comparison with the isolated LDL parameter, these parameters remained nonsignificant unlike TG/HDL. As observed in previous studies, these parameters showed a significant relationship with AS ( 21 , 46 , 59 ). However, the findings observed could be the result of a decrease in the antiatherogenic constituent of the denominator (i.e., HDL) ( 60 ).…”

“…Moreover, epidemiological findings have shown that lipid ratios (such as TG/HDL, TC/HDL, and LDL/HDL) were more often associated with CV risks than with single lipid parameters ( 22 , 45 ). According to previous studies, the TG/HDL ratio was recognized as a major index of atherogenic particles by showing a stronger relationship with AS than other lipid parameters ( 21 , 22 , 36 , 46 , 47 ). Moreover, the TG/HDL ratio was mainly associated with predicting the incidence of coronary artery disease and CV mortality ( 48 ).…”

Association of Dietary Patterns with Cardiovascular and Kidney Phenotypes in an Uruguayan Population Cohort

“…The lack of association between the Meat DP with the cardiovascular phenotypes, considering the cumulative risk factors described previously, may be related to the protective effect of younger age, as this study included a broad age range with most participants at middle age. Although we did not find clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease, it should be taken into consideration that these participants had higher TG and TG/HDLc ratio and these markers have recently shown to predict arterial stiffness progression [ 56 ]. Thus, they may be at an increased risk of arterial stiffness although the cumulative damage on the vascular wall are not evident yet.…”

Arterial Stiffness Assessment by Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: Is It a Useful Tool in Clinical Practice?

“…In the analysis performed by Sang et al, TG values, as well as TG/HDL-C index, were documented to be associated with increased PWV and can indicate the high risk of progression of AS in healthy men [ 71 ].…”