Excess Apolipoprotein B and Cardiovascular Risk in Women and Men.

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) are highly correlated measures of atherogenic lipoproteins. OBJECTIVES: The study investigators hypothesized that excess apoB is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and all-cause mortality. METHODS: The study included 53,484 women and 41,624 men not taking statins from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Associations of excess apoB with the risk of MI, ASCVD, and all-cause mortality were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regressions with 95% CIs. Excess apoB was defined as measured levels of apoB minus expected levels of apoB from LDL-C alone; expected levels were defined by linear regressions of LDL-C levels vs apoB levels in individuals with triglycerides ≤1 mmol/L (89 mg/dL). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.6 years, 2,048 MIs, 4,282 ASCVD events, and 8,873 deaths occurred. There was a dose-dependent association between excess apoB and the risk of MI and ASCVD in both women and men, as well as an association with the risk of all-cause mortality in women. For ASCVD in women compared with those with excess apoB <11 mg/dL, the multivariable adjusted HR was 1.08 (95% CI: 0.97-1.21) for excess apoB 11 to 25 mg/dL, 1.30 (95% CI: 1.14-1.48) for 26 to 45 mg/dL, 1.34 (95% CI: 1.14-1.58) for 46 to 100 mg/dL, and 1.75 (95% CI: 1.08-2.83) for excess apoB >100 mg/dL. Corresponding HRs in men were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.02-1.26), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.26-1.57), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.25-1.60), and 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.05), respectively. Results were robust across the entire LDL-C spectrum. CONCLUSIONS: Excess apoB (ie, the value of apoB above that contributed by LDL-C levels alone) is associated dose-dependently with an increased risk of MI and ASCVD in women and men. This finding demonstrates that apoB provides important predictive value beyond LDL-C across the entire LDL-C spectrum.

Association between the atherogenic index of plasma and bone mineral density among adult women: NHANES (2011-2018).

Background: Studies on the relationship between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and bone mineral density (BMD) among adult women in the United States are limited. The purpose of this study was to explore this association using a sizable, nationally representative sample. Methods: Data from the 2011 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used in this observational study. The AIP was computed as log10 (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Total BMD was measured via dual-energy X-ray densitometry. We constructed multiple linear regression models to evaluate the correlation between the AIP and BMD. The non-linear relationship was characterized by smooth curve fitting and generalized additive models. We also conducted subgroup and interaction analyses. Results: In this study, we included 2,362 adult women with a mean age of 38.13 ± 12.42 years. The results of multiple linear regression analysis, the AIP and total BMD showed a negative association (ß = -0.021, 95%CI: -0.037, -0.006). The curve fitting analysis and threshold effect analysis showed a non-linear relationship between the two variables, and the inflection point of the AIP was found to be -0.61. The total BMD decreased significantly when the AIP reached this value (ß = -0.03, 95%CI: -0.04, -0.01). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that AIP and total BMD had a strong negative relationship in participants who were below 45 years old (ß = -0.023; 95% CI: -0.041, -0.004), overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) (ß = -0.022; 95% CI: -0.041, -0.002), had a higher education level (ß = -0.025; 95% CI: -0.044, -0.006), and had no partners (ß = -0.014; 95% CI: -0.06, -0.009). Conclusions: We found a negative correlation between the AIP and total BMD. Clinicians should pay attention to patients with high AIP, which might indicate a low BMD and has reference significance in preventing osteoporosis.

Association between the triglyceride glucose index and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the general population: analysis of the national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2004.

Objective: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a reliable substitute indicator of insulin resistance (IR), is considered an independent risk factor for long-term outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, studies investigating the association between TyG and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are limited and lack direct evidence. We aim to examine the relationship between the TyG index and ASCVD through a comprehensive cross-sectional study. Methods: Overall, 7212 participants from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. The baseline TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression, univariate logistic regression, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between the TyG index and ASCVD. Results: In the overall population, a multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the TyG level was not only positively associated with ASCVD [OR (95%CI): 1.29 (1.01,1.64), P=0.042], coronary artery disease (CAD) [OR (95%CI): 1.82(1.33,2.48), P<0.001], and stroke [OR (95%CI): 2.68(1.54,4.69), P=0.002], but also linearly correlated with all three (P-overall<0.001; P-non-linear >0.05). Although the TyG index was not associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) [OR (95%CI): 1.00 (0.73,1.36), P>0.900], it showed a U-shaped correlation with PAD (P-overall <0.001; P-non-linear= 0.0085), and the risk of PAD was minimized when TyG=8.67. By incorporating the TyG index into the baseline risk model, the accuracy of ASCVD prediction was improved [AUC: baseline risk model, 0.7183 vs. baseline risk model + TyG index, 0.7203, P for comparison=0.034]. The results of the subgroup analysis were consistent with those of the main analysis. Conclusion: The TyG index was independently associated with ASCVD, CAD, and stroke, suggesting that it may serve as a valid indicator for predicting ASCVD in the entire population.

Diet-related inflammation is positively associated with atherogenic indices.

Current evidence suggests that non-traditional serum lipid ratios are more effective than traditional serum lipid parameters in predicting vascular diseases, and both of them are associated with dietary patterns. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and atherogenic indices using traditional serum lipid parameters (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)) and non-traditional serum lipid ratios (atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's index-I (CRI_I), Castelli's index-II (CRI_II), the lipoprotein combination index (LCI), and the atherogenic coefficient (AC)). Basic information from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases cohort study was utilized in the present cross-sectional observational study. The study included 8870 adults aged 35-65 years. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to measure DII. We compared the distributions of outcomes by DII score groups using multivariable linear regression. The difference between DII score groups was evaluated by the Bonferroni test. The mean ± SD DII was - 2.5 ± 1.43, and the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 44%. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, physical activity, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status (SES), participants in the highest quartile of DII had a greater risk for CRI_I (ß = 0.11, CI 0.05, 0.18), CRI_II (ß = 0.06, CI 0.01, 0.11), LCI (ß = 0.11, CI 288.12, 8373.11), AC (ß = 0.11, CI 0.05, 0.17) and AIP (ß = 0.06, CI 0.02, 0.10). Moreover, according to the adjusted logistic regression model, the risk of dyslipidemia significantly increased by 24% (OR: 1.24, 95% CI 1.08-1.41), 7% (OR: 1.07, 95% CI 0.94, 1.21) and 3% (OR: 1.03, 95% CI 0.91, 1.16) in Q4, Q3 and Q2 of the DII, respectively. Finally, diet-related inflammation, as estimated by the DII, is associated with a higher risk of CRI-I, CRI-II, LCI, AC, and AIP and increased odds of dyslipidemia.

Continuity of care between dyslipidemia patients and multiple providers: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impacts of continuity of care (COC) between patients and multiple providers, i.e., doctors and community pharmacists, on clinical and economic outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study and analyzed Korean national claims data for ambulatory care setting between 2007 and 2018. Patients with dyslipidemia newly diagnosed in 2008 were identified. COC between providers and patients was computed using the continuity of care index (COCI). Based on COCIs, the study patients were allocated to four groups: HM/HP, HM/LP, LM/HP, and LM/LP. Each symbol represents H for high, L for low, M for doctor, and P for pharmacist. The primary study outcome was the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). RESULTS: 126,710 patients were included. Percentages of patients in the four study groups were as follows: HM/HP 35%, HM/LP 19%, LM/HP 12%, and LM/LP 34%. During the seven-year outcome period, 8,337 patients (6.6%) developed an ASCVD, and percentages in the study groups were as follows; HM/HP 6.2%, HM/LP 6.3%, LM/HP 6.8%, and LM/LP 7.1%. After adjusting for confounding covariates, only the LM/LP group had a significantly higher risk of ASCVD than the reference group, HM/HP (aHR = 1.16 [95% confidence interval = 1.10~1.22]). The risk of inappropriate medication adherence gradually increased 1.03-fold in the HM/LP group, 1.67-fold in the LM/HP, and 2.26-fold in the LM/LP group versus the HM/HP group after adjusting for covariates. Disease-related costs were lower in the HM/HP and LM/HP groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that patients with high relational care continuity with doctors and pharmacists achieved better clinical results and utilized health care less, resulting in reduced expenses. Further exploration for the group that exhibits an ongoing relationship solely with pharmacists is warranted.

Use of Dietary Supplements Among People With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the United States: A Population-Based Analysis From NHANES.

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplement use is prevalent in the general US population, but little is known regarding the driving reasons for their use among those with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to March 2020 were used to identify adults with ASCVD. Supplement use was assessed by interviewers using label review, and surveys captured self-reported reasons for use. Demographic, clinical, medication, and laboratory characteristics were compared between supplement users and nonusers. Among individuals with ASCVD in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=965; mean age, 65 years; 56.1% men; 73.7% White individuals), 73.1% reported taking ≥1 dietary supplements, most commonly multivitamins (35.4%), vitamin D (30.8%), and fish oil (19.8%). Of those taking supplements, 47.3% report taking them under the advisement of a health professional. Nearly one fifth (17.9%) reported taking at least 1 supplement for "heart health," most commonly fish oil (11.1%), followed by CoQ10 (4.2%) and resveratrol (1.5%). Supplement users were older (68 versus 62 years; P=0.003), included more women (45.8% versus 37.7%; P=0.17), were less likely to smoke (11.0% versus 36.4%; P<0.001), had higher levels of education (P=0.005) and income (P<0.001), and higher use of statins (69.4% versus 55.8%; P=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Supplement use is common in people with ASCVD. Among the top 3 supplements, a substantial minority were being taken under the direction of health professionals. Supplement users often report taking supplements "for heart health," despite a lack of randomized trial evidence for benefit in ASCVD, indicating a need for more patient and clinician education regarding health benefits of dietary supplements in ASCVD.

An inverse association of dietary choline with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among US adults: a cross-sectional NHANES analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of diet choline in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is uncertain. Findings from animal experiments are contradictory while there is a lack of clinical investigations. This study aimed to investigate the association between choline intake and ASCVD based on individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 5525 individuals from the NHANES between 2011 and 2018. Participants were categorized into the ASCVD (n = 5015) and non-ASCVD (n = 510) groups. Univariable and multivariable-adjusted regression analyses were employed to investigate the relationship between diet choline and pertinent covariates. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to evaluate the association between choline intake and ASCVD. RESULTS: ASCVD participants had higher choline intake compared to those without ASCVD. In the higher tertiles of choline intake, there was a greater proportion of males, married individuals, highly educated individuals, and those with increased physical activity, but a lower proportion of smokers and drinkers. In the higher tertiles of choline intake, a lower proportion of individuals had a history of congestive heart failure and stroke. After adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and physical activity, an inverse association between choline intake and heart disease, stroke, and ASCVD was found. A restricted cubic spline analysis showed a mirrored J-shaped relationship between choline and ASCVD, stroke and congestive heart failure in males. There was no association between dietary choline and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: An inverse association was observed between choline intake and ASVCD among U.S. adults. Further large longitudinal studies are needed to test the causal relationship of choline and ASVCD.

Associations of psychological factors with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular health in middle-age: the population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage study (SCAPIS).

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health issue, primarily caused by atherosclerosis. Psychological factors may play a role in the development and progression of CVD. However, the relationship between psychological factors and atherosclerosis is complex and poorly understood. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the association of psychological factors with (i) coronary and carotid atherosclerosis and (ii) cardiovascular health according to Life's Essential 8, in a large Swedish cohort. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), a large population-based project including individuals aged 50 to 65 years. Several psychological factors were analysed: general stress, stress at work, financial stress, major adverse life events, locus of control, feeling depressed, and depression. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed as the degree of stenosis by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores. Carotid atherosclerosis was examined using ultrasound. In addition, cardiovascular health was examined using the Life's Essential 8 concept created by the American Heart Association, which includes four health behaviors and four health factors. Associations were examined through binomial logistic regression (atherosclerosis variables) and linear regression (Life's Essential 8). RESULTS: A total of 25,658 participants were included in the study. The presence of financial stress, higher locus of control, and depression was weakly associated with increased odds of CCTA stenosis, CAC ≥ 1 and the presence of carotid plaques (all odds ratios: 1.10-1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.32) after adjusting for sex, age, and study site. However, these associations were attenuated and not statistically significant after additional adjustments for socioeconomic factors and health behaviors. Conversely, we observed inverse associations between the worst category for all psychological factors and cardiovascular health according to Life's Essential 8 score (all standardized ß-Coefficient ≤-0.033, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: While there were no strong and consistent associations between psychological factors and atherosclerosis, the consistent associations of psychological factors with cardiovascular health by Life's Essential 8 may have relevance for future CVD risk. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the long-term effects of psychological factors on atherosclerosis development and cardiovascular health.

Elevated AIP is associated with the prevalence of MAFLD in the US adults: evidence from NHANES 2017-2018.

Background: Atherogenic Index of plasma (AIP) is closely related to metabolic abnormalities. But as of now, there is no definitive conclusion on the dose-response relationship pattern between AIP and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a fresh insight for understanding the intrinsic link between AIP and the prevalence of MAFLD by exploring the dose-response pattern between AIP and MAFLD. Methods: A total of 9254 participants received the survey and 1090 participants were finally included according to the screening criteria. To evaluate the association between AIP and the prevalence of MAFLD based on weighted multivariate logistic regression. Sensitivity analysis of the association between AIP and MAFLD was performed using propensity score matching (PSM). Restrictive cubic splines (RCS) were used to identify patterns of dose-response relationships between AIP and MAFLD, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive ability of AIP and traditional lipid parameters for MAFLD. Results: In this study, a total of 563 participants were found to have MAFLD. The results of weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, after adjusting for sex and age, participants in the highest quartile (Q4) of AIP had a significantly increased risk of developing MAFLD compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (Model 2: OR = 9.03, 95% CI 4.75-17.17). A similar trend was observed in the fully adjusted model (Model 3: OR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.55-9.52). The RCS analysis revealed a linear dose-response association between AIP and MAFLD(P for crude non-linearity = 0.087). This association remained significant after accounting for potential confounding variables(P for adjusted non-linearity = 0.663). The ROC curve results suggest that AIP performs better than traditional lipid indicators in predicting MAFLD (AUC = 0.732, 95%CI 0.705-0.758). Conclusion: A linear dose-response relationship exists between AIP and MAFLD, suggesting that as AIP increases, so does the risk of developing MAFLD.

Association between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease score and skin carotenoid levels estimated via refraction spectroscopy in the Japanese population: a cross-sectional study.

Carotenoids play a role in preventing and impeding the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs) through their anti-oxidative effects. This study evaluated associations between ASCVD risk and skin carotenoid (SC) levels, reflecting dietary carotenoid intake. Participants' ASCVD risk was assessed using the Hisayama ASCVD risk prediction model, and SC levels were measured through a reflection spectroscope (Veggie Meter). The associations between high ASCVD risk and SC levels were analyzed using logistic regression analysis and a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model. A total of 1130 men and women (mean age: 56 years) from participants who underwent a health examination in Seirei Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Medicine in 2019 and 2022 were analyzed. Of these, 4.6% had moderate or high ASCVD risk. Mean SC values were 236, 315, 376, 447, and 606 in quintile Q1 to Q5, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of SC quintile for moderate- or high-risk ASCVD was 0.24 (0.12-0.51) in Q5 (495 ≤), 0.42 (0.23-0.77) in Q4, 0.50 (0.29-0.88) in Q3, and 0.68 (0.41-1.12) in Q2 compared to Q1 (< 281). High SC values continuously showed non-linear inverse association with moderate- or high-risk for ASCVD in Japanese adults. Non-invasive SC measurements may be a good indicator for recommending carotenoids to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Ten-Year Risk Equations for Incident Heart Failure in Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Populations.

BACKGROUND: Ten-year risk equations for incident heart failure (HF) are available for the general population, but not for patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which is highly prevalent in HF cohorts. This study aimed to develop and validate 10-year risk equations for incident HF in patients with known ASCVD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten-year risk equations for incident HF were developed using the United Kingdom Biobank cohort (recruitment 2006-2010) including participants with established ASCVD but free from HF at baseline. Model performance was validated using the Australian Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Biobank cohort (recruitment 2000-2011) and compared with the performance of general population risk models. Incident HF occurred in 13.7% of the development cohort (n=31 446, median 63 years, 35% women, follow-up 10.7±2.7 years) and in 21.3% of the validation cohort (n=1659, median age 65 years, 25% women, follow-up 9.4±3.7 years). Predictors of HF included in the sex-specific models were age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure (treated or untreated), glucose (treated or untreated), cholesterol, smoking status, QRS duration, kidney disease, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. ASCVD-HF equations had good discrimination and calibration in development and validation cohorts, with superior performance to general population risk equations. CONCLUSIONS: ASCVD-specific 10-year risk equations for HF outperform general population risk models in individuals with established ASCVD. The ASCVD-HF equations can be calculated from readily available clinical data and could facilitate screening and preventative treatment decisions in this high-risk group.

Relationship between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study aimed to explore the potential correlation between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We enrolled 6540 patients with T2DM who were receiving chronic disease management for hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in Chengyang District of Qingdao. Among them, 730 had ASCVD (ASCVD group), which 5810 did not (N-ASCVD group). The results showed significantly higher levels of age, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure, ASCVD family history, female proportion, and DR incidence in the N-ASCVD group. Additionally, the glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in the ASCVD group. Logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between DR and ASCVD risk. DR was further categorized into 2 subtypes, nonproliferative DR (NPDR) and proliferative DR (PDR), based on e lesion severity. Interestingly, only the PDR was associated with ASCVD. Even after accounting for traditional ASCVD risk factors such as age, sex, and family history, PDR remained associated with ASCVD, with a staggering 718% increase in the risk for patients with PDR. Therefore, there is a strong association between ASCVD and DR in individuals with T2DM, with PDR particularly exhibiting an independent and positive correlation with increased ASCVD risk.

Gender differences in the association between changes in the atherogenic index of plasma and cardiometabolic diseases: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between changes in Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in middle-aged and elderly individuals remains unclear. This study aims to explore the association between changes in AIP and CMD. METHODS: This study included 3,791 individuals aged over 45 years from CHARLS. Participants were divided into four groups using the K-Means clustering method. Cumulative AIP was used as a quantitative indicator reflecting changes in AIP. Differences in baseline data and CMD incidence rates among these four groups were compared. Multifactorial logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between changes in AIP and CMD, and subgroup analysis and interaction tests were conducted to evaluate potential relationships between changes in AIP and CMD across different subgroups. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to assess the dose-response relationship between cumulative AIP and CMD. RESULTS: Changes in AIP were independently and positively associated with CMD. In males, the risk significantly increased in class4 compared to class1 (OR 1.75, 95%CI 1.12-2.73). In females, changes in AIP were not significantly associated with CMD. Cumulative AIP was positively correlated with CMD (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.01-1.30), with significant gender differences in males (OR 1.29, 95%CI 1.07-1.55) and females (OR 1.03, 95%CI 0.87-1.23) (p for interaction = 0.042). In addition, a linear relationship was observed between cumulative AIP and CMD in male. CONCLUSION: Substantial changes in AIP may increase the risk of CMD in middle-aged and elderly Chinese males. Dynamic monitoring of AIP is of significant importance for the prevention and treatment of CMD.

Exploring the L-shaped relationship between Atherogenic Index of Plasma and depression: Results from NHANES 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: The Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) is a novel metric linked to several diseases. However, there is inadequate evidence to investigate the relationship between AIP and depression. Therefore, we aim to elucidate the non-linear association between AIP and depression. METHODS: 12,453 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018 were included. The AIP was calculated as log10 (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to identify depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). Weighted multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS) models, subgroup analysis, and interaction tests were employed to reveal the relationship between AIP and depression. RESULTS: AIP was found to be significantly correlated with depression. In the fully adjusted model, elevated AIP levels were associated with higher odds of depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50; 95 % CI: 1.06-2.12). The RCS analysis indicated an L-shaped pattern in the relationship between depression and AIP, with inflection points at -0.289. Beyond this inflection point, individuals with elevated AIP levels were associated with higher odds of depression (OR = 2.25; 95 % CI: 1.49-3.39). Notably, the association was particularly pronounced among individuals with diabetes. LIMITATION: This cross-sectional study is unable to establish causal relationships. CONCLUSION: There was an L-shaped association between AIP and depression among US adults. AIP has the potential value as a biological marker for depression, and maintaining AIP values below a certain threshold may help in managing depression.

Lipoprotein(a) and Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk in a Multi-Ethnic Pooled Prospective Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a causal genetic risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There are limited long-term follow-up data from large U.S. population cohorts. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship of Lp(a) with ASCVD outcomes in a large, pooled, multi-ethnic U.S. METHODS: The study included data on Lp(a) and ASCVD outcomes from 5 U.S. PROSPECTIVE STUDIES: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), JHS (Jackson Heart Study), FHS-OS (Framingham Heart Study-Offspring), and ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities). Lp(a) levels were classified on the basis of cohort-specific percentiles. Multivariable Cox regression related Lp(a) with composite incident ASCVD events by risk group and diabetes status. RESULTS: The study included 27,756 persons without previous ASCVD who were aged 20 to 79 years, including 55.0% women, 35.6% Black participants, and 7.6% patients with diabetes, with mean follow-up of 21.1 years. Compared with Lp(a) levels <50th percentile, Lp(a) levels in the 50th to <75th, 75th to <90th, and ≥90th percentiles had adjusted HRs of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.99-1.14), 1.18 (95% CI: 1.09-1.28), and 1.46 (95% CI: 1.33-1.59), respectively for ASCVD events. Elevated Lp(a) predicted incident ASCVD events similarly by risk group, sex, and race or ethnic groups, but more strongly in patients with vs without diabetes (interaction P = 0.0056), with HRs for Lp(a) levels ≥90th percentile of 1.92 (95% CI: 1.50-2.45) and 1.41 (95% CI: 1.28-1.55), respectively. Lp(a) also individually predicted myocardial infarction, revascularization, stroke, and coronary heart disease death, but not total mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows, in a large U.S. pooled cohort, that higher Lp(a) levels are associated with an increased ASCVD risk, including in patients with diabetes.

Discordance Between Very Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Increases Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Geographically Defined Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Clinical risk scores are used to identify those at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite preventative efforts, residual risk remains for many individuals. Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and lipid discordance could be contributors to the residual risk of ASCVD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiovascular disease-free residents, aged ≥40 years, living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, were identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and VLDL-C were estimated from clinically ordered lipid panels using the Sampson equation. Participants were categorized into concordant and discordant lipid pairings based on clinical cut points. Rates of incident ASCVD, including percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, stroke, or myocardial infarction, were calculated during follow-up. The association of LDL-C and VLDL-C with ASCVD was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Interaction between LDL-C and VLDL-C was assessed. The study population (n=39 098) was primarily White race (94%) and female sex (57%), with a mean age of 54 years. VLDL-C (per 10-mg/dL increase) was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident ASCVD (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.05-1.09]; P<0.001]) after adjustment for traditional risk factors. The interaction between LDL-C and VLDL-C was not statistically significant (P=0.11). Discordant individuals with high VLDL-C and low LDL-C experienced the highest rate of incident ASCVD events, 16.9 per 1000 person-years, during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: VLDL-C and lipid discordance are associated with a greater risk of ASCVD and can be estimated from clinically ordered lipid panels to improve ASCVD risk assessment.

Association between atherosclerosis and height loss among older individuals.

Atherosclerosis and height loss are each reportedly associated with cardiovascular disease. However, no studies have found an association between atherosclerosis and height loss. A retrospective study of 2435 individuals aged 60-89 years who underwent annual health check-ups was conducted. Atherosclerosis was defined as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) ≥ 1.1 mm. Height loss was defined as being in the highest quintile of height decrease per year, as in our previous studies. Among study participants, 555 were diagnosed as having atherosclerosis. Independent of known cardiovascular risk factors, atherosclerosis was positively associated with height loss. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.46 (95% confidence interval, 1.15, 1.83). Essentially the same associations were observed for men and women. The adjusted OR (95% CI) was 1.43 (1.01, 2.04) for men and 1.46 (1.07, 1.99) for women. Among older individuals, atherosclerosis is associated with height loss. This result can help clarify the mechanism underlying the association between height loss and cardiovascular disease.