Correlation of blood lipid parameters with newly diagnosed carotid intima media thickness and carotid plaque in primary health care of populations

TL;DR

This study finds specific blood lipids are linked to carotid artery thickening and plaque in a large population sample.

Contribution

Identifies distinct lipid markers associated with carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in primary health care settings.

Findings

TC, LDL-C, and NHDL-C are independent risk factors for thickened CIMT and carotid plaque.

TG and HDL-C do not significantly correlate with CIMT or carotid plaque after adjusting for confounders.

Abstract

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) or carotid plaque has become one of the subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. Different lipids may play different roles in atherosclerosis. However, there are a few studies with a small sample size on the contribution of different lipids to CIMT or carotid plaque, and the conclusions are controversial.

We included Chinese residents of Chengdu who voluntarily participated in an annual medical check-up at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Demographic data and medical history of subjects were collected. Anthropometry and laboratory indexes, including blood lipids, were measured. Bilateral carotid arteries were assessed.

A total of 9,356 cases were included in this study. The prevalence of thickened CIMT and carotid plaque were 9.4% and 17.8%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and NHDL-C/HDL-C were independent risk factors for thickened CIMT, but triglyceride (TG), HDL-C and TC/HDL-C had no significant correlation with thickened CIMT. TC, LDL-C,NHDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were independent risk factors for carotid plaque, but TG, HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C had no significant correlation with carotid plaque. TC, LDL-C, NHDL-C, LDLC/ HDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were positively correlated with CIMT, while TG, HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C were not.

The correlation between different lipid components and thickened CIMT or carotid plaque are different. TC, LDL-C, NHDL-C,LDL-C/HDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were positively correlated with CIMT, but TG, HDL-C and TC/HDL-C not. TC, LDL-C, NHDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were positively correlated with carotid plaque, but TG, HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C not.

Figures