Elevated serum uric acid was associated with pre-inflammatory state and impacted the role of HDL-C on carotid atherosclerosis

Association Between Uric Acid to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Kidney Function in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism: A Cross-Sectional Study

The relationship between the uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) and kidney function in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is unclear. Therefore, this research explored the link between the UHR and kidney function in PAs. This research was conducted at the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and involved PA individuals hospitalized between October 2017 and April 2022. A total of 653 eligible participants were included in the analysis for this research. The kidney function was assessed by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is calculated using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as an eGFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or the ratio of urine microalbumin to creatinine (UACR) ≥30 mg/g. The study used multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses to investigate the association between log-transformed UHR levels and, eGFR and CKD. After multivariable adjustments, the results indicated an inverse association between Lg-UHR and eGFR (per SD increment; β: -9.02; 95% CI: -11.59, -6.46). Compared to PA patients with the lowest level of Lg-UHR (T1), patients with the highest level of Lg-UHR (T3) had a lower eGFR (β: -20.14, 95% CI: -26.25, -14.04). Conversely, Lg-UHR and CKD showed a positive association cross-sectionally (per SD increment; OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.26, 2.23). Compared to PA patients in T1 level, patients in T3 level had a higher prevalence of CKD (OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.26, 5.05). In patients with PA, UHR is inversely associated with eGFR and positively associated with CKD.

Association of serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes: a prospective cohort study

Background and aims

The serum uric acid (UA) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (UHR) is a novel biomarker that indicates inflammation and metabolic disorders. Also, it has been shown that UHR correlates with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Despite this, limited research exists on its prognostic significance. This study aimed to explore the association of UHR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes.

Methods

This cohort study included 18,804 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018 with diabetes or prediabetes aged 20 years or older, followed until December 31, 2019. Patients with diabetes or prediabetes were grouped according to quartiles of UHR, which was calculated as serum UA (mg/dL)/HDL-C (mg/dL). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models, restricted cubic spline analysis, and threshold effects were performed to assess the association between baseline UHR and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also conducted.

Results

During a median follow-up of 80 months, a total of 2,748 (14.61%) deaths occurred, including 869 (4.63%) cardiovascular deaths. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the highest quartile of UHR had the highest mortality rates. Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that individuals in the highest quartile of UHR had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07-1.45) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.19-2.04) compared to those in the second quartile. A J-shaped association between UHR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed, with threshold points of 13.73% and 9.39%, respectively. Specifically, when UHR was above the respective thresholds, the HRs of a 10% increment of UHR for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were 1.45 (95% CI: 1.31-1.61) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.20-1.60). However, UHR below the threshold did not significantly correlate with mortality. Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed that the correlation of UHR with all-cause mortality was significantly modified by sex and age, with a persistent positive correlation observed in women and those aged < 60.

Conclusion

Higher UHR was correlated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes.

The serum uric acid/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: a novel predictor for the presence of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objective

Robust evidence has demonstrated that inflammation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The serum uric acid (UA)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (UHR) has recently been recognized as a new biomarker for evaluating inflammatory and anti-inflammatory interactions. However, whether UHR is associated with AAA remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between UHR and presence of AAA.

Methods

We prospectively performed a hospital-based and community-based AAA screening program using ultrasonography in 9,064 individuals at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and two communities in China. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between UHR and presence of AAA. In addition, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression method was used to visually investigate the dose-response relationship between UHR and the presence of AAA. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted to adjust for baseline variations and diminish selection bias, and subgroup analysis was performed to investigate the consistency of the conclusions.

Results

The prevalence of AAA was 2.45% (222/9,064) in the present study. The optimal cut-off value of UHR was 17.0%, which was selected according to the receiver operator characteristic curve. The prevalence of AAA was 3.96% in the high-UHR group (UHR ≥ 17%) and 1.54% in the low-UHR group (UHR < 17%) (P < 0.001). After adjusting for other relevant clinical covariates, UHR was independently associated with the presence of AAA, either as a continuous variable (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.01-1.05, P < 0.001) or as a categorical variable (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.18-2.26, P = 0.003). The RCS curve showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship between UHR and the presence of AAA. Moreover, the positive correlation between UHR and the presence of AAA remained significant after PSM and subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

UHR was positively associated with the presence of AAA, and there was a non-linear dose-response relationship between them. Thus, UHR may serve as a novel and reliable predictor of AAA.

Natural products: A potential immunomodulators against inflammatory-related diseases

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory-related diseases (IRDs) are increasing worldwide. Current approved treatments for IRDs in the clinic are combat against inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Though significant development in the treatment in the IRDs has been achieved, the severe side effects and inefficiency of currently practicing treatments are endless challenge. Drug discovery from natural sources is efficacious over a resurgence and also natural products are leading than the synthetic molecules in both clinical trials and market. The use of natural products against IRDs is a conventional therapeutic approach since it is a reservoir of unique structural chemistry, accessibility and bioactivities with reduced side effects and low toxicity. In this review, we discuss the cause of IRDs, treatment of options for IRDs and the impact and adverse effects of currently practicing clinical drugs. As well, the significant role of natural products against various IRDs, the limitations in the clinical development of natural products and thus pave the way for development of natural products as immunomodulators against IRDs are also discussed.

Prevalence, demographic characteristics, and clinical features of suicide risk in first episode drug-naïve schizophrenia patients with comorbid severe anxiety

BACKGROUND

Both anxiety symptoms and suicide risk are common in schizophrenia. However, previous findings about the association between anxiety and suicide risk in schizophrenia were controversial. This study is the first to examine the prevalence of suicide risk and related demographic, clinical features in a large sample of first episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia patients with comorbid severe anxiety.

METHODS

In total, 316 patients with FEDN schizophrenia were enrolled in this study. Patients' symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum levels of glucose, insulin, uric acid, and lipids including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), were evaluated.

RESULTS

In the current study, 56.3% patients presented comorbid severe anxiety. The rate of suicide risk was higher in the severe anxiety group (55.6%) than in the mild-moderate anxiety group (33.3%). The interactions among severe anxiety, uric acid and HDL-C were associated with suicide risk. Compared with patients with normal uric acid, those with abnormal uric acid exhibited a stronger association between HAMA scores and HAMD-suicide item scores. This enhanced association was also observed for patients with abnormal HDL-C levels.

CONCLUSIONS

In FEDN schizophrenia patients with comorbid severe anxiety, our findings suggested a high incidence of suicide risk. Abnormal levels of uric acid and low levels of HDL-C, as well as high depression may be associated with an increased risk of suicide in FEDN schizophrenia patients with comorbid severe anxiety.

Correlation between serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and atrial fibrillation in patients with NAFLD

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is independently associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. The uric acid (UA) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (UHR) has been shown to be closely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and NAFLD. The aim of this study is to clarify whether elevated UHR is associated with the occurrence of AF in patients with NAFLD and to determine whether UHR predicted AF.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with NAFLD in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The study subjects were categorized into AF group and non-AF group based on the presence or absence of combined AF. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the correlation between UHR and AF. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup interaction analysis were performed to verify the robustness of the study results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff value for UHR to predict the development of AF in patients with NAFLD.

RESULTS

A total of 421 patients with NAFLD were included, including 171 in the AF group and 250 in the non-AF group. In the univariate regression analysis, NAFLD patients with higher UHR were more likely to experience AF, and the risk of AF persisted after confounding factors were adjusted for (OR: 1.010, 95%CI: 1.007-1.013, P<0.001). AF risk increased with increasing UHR quartile (P for trend < 0.001). Despite normal serum UA and HDL-C, UHR was still connected with AF in patients with NAFLD. All subgroup variables did not interact significantly with UHR in the subgroup analysis. The ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve for UA, HDL-C, and UHR were 0.702, 0.606, and 0.720, respectively, suggesting that UHR has a higher predictive value for AF occurrence in NAFLD patients compared to HDL-C or UA alone.

CONCLUSION

Increased UHR level was independently correlated with a high risk of AF in NAFLD patients.

Sex differences in the association of the uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with coronary artery disease risk among Chinese nondialysis patients with CKD stages 3-5

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Evidence has indicated that serum uric acid (UA) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are positively and negatively associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The UA to HDL-C ratio (UHR) has recently drawn attention as a new predictor for metabolic syndrome, inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, the association between the UHR and CAD in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is still unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively analysed 733 nondialysis patients with CKD stage 3-5 who received their first coronary artery angiography (CAG), including 510 participants with CAD. All laboratory indicators were collected within one week before CAG. The median UHR of CAD and non-CAD patients was 15.52% and 12.29%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, female patients with a high UHR were 4.7 times more at risk of CAD than those with a lower UHR. Meanwhile, the positive association of the UHR with the severity of coronary artery stenosis (CAS) persisted significantly in female CAD subjects but not in males. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for CAD and severe CAS. The area under the curve (AUC) for the UHR was higher than that for UA and HDL-C alone in female patients [UHR (AUC): 0.715 for CAD and 0.716 for severe CAS].

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated UHR was independently related to an increased CAD risk and the severity of CAS in nondialysis female patients with CKD stage 3-5, and was more predictive of the onset of CAD and the severity of CAS than UA or HDL-C alone.

Development and Internal Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Carotid Atherosclerosis in the Hyperuricemia Population

Purpose

The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) in a population with hyperuricemia (HUA) and develop a CAS risk prediction model.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study included 3579 HUA individuals who underwent health examinations, including carotid ultrasonography, at the Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital in Ningbo, China, in 2020. All participants were randomly assigned to the training and internal validation sets in a 7:3 ratio. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors associated with CAS. The characteristic variables were screened using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator combined with 10-fold cross-validation, and the resulting model was visualized by a nomogram. The discriminative ability, calibration, and clinical utility of the risk model were validated using the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis.

Results

Sex, age, mean red blood cell volume, and fasting blood glucose were identified as independent risk factors for CAS in the HUA population. Age, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose, total triiodothyronine, and direct bilirubin, were screened to construct a CAS risk prediction model. In the training and internal validation sets, the risk prediction model showed an excellent discriminative ability with the area under the curve of 0.891 and 0.901, respectively, and a high level of fit. Decision curve analysis results demonstrated that the risk prediction model could be beneficial when the threshold probabilities were 1-87% and 1-100% in the training and internal validation sets, respectively.

Conclusion

We developed and internally validated a risk prediction model for CAS in a population with HUA, thereby contributing to the CAS early identification.

Predictive value of the serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio for culprit plaques in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Hyperuricemia and low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are both risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). The uric acid to HDL-C ratio (UHR) has recently been identified as a new inflammatory and metabolic biomarker. However, the relationship between the UHR and coronary culprit plaques has not been fully investigated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

A total of 346 patients with ACS were enrolled in this study. Culprit lesion characteristics were assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Logistic regression and linear correlation analyses were performed to assess the association between the UHR and culprit plaques. The predictive value of the UHR was investigated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

The percentages of typical culprit plaques, including ruptures, erosions and thrombi, were greater in the high-UHR subgroup than those in the low-UHR subgroup. A positive relationship was also found between the UHR and diameter stenosis (r = 0.160, P = 0.003) and between the UHR and area stenosis (r = 0.145, P = 0.007). The UHR was found to be independently associated with plaque rupture, erosion and thrombus. Furthermore, ROC analysis suggested that the UHR had a better predictive value than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated UHR level was independently related to the occurrence rate of culprit plaques. The UHR is a simple and easily acquired parameter for detecting culprit plaques in patients with ACS.

Relationship Between Atherogenic Index of Plasma and Serum Uric Acid in Patients With Untreated Essential Hypertension in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Several studies have reported that the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is associated with serum uric acid (SUA) in healthy middle-aged men, kidney transplant patients, and diabetic patients. We assessed the relationship between AIP and SUA in patients with untreated essential hypertension (EH) in China. In the cross-sectional study, we evaluated 5003 patients with untreated EH in China; 1490 were assigned to the hyperuricemia (HUA) group and 3513 to the normouricemia (non-HUA) group according to the diagnostic criteria of HUA (SUA level≥6 mg/dL in females and ≥7 mg/dL in males). A higher AIP level was found in the HUA group (P < .001), and AIP was positively and independently correlated with SUA after adjusting for statistically significant variables (β = .204, P < .001). Moreover, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the AIP was closely and independently related to HUA after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio [OR]: 11.980, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.186-45.047, P < .001). Our findings suggested that the AIP was positively and independently associated with SUA, and elevated AIP might be a significant risk factor for HUA in patients with untreated EH in China.

Association of dietary inflammatory index with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in hyperuricemia population: A cohort study from NHANES 2001 to 2010

Dietary management is a crucial component of non-pharmacological treatment for hyperuricemia, yet there is a paucity of research on the impact of dietary habits on the survival outcomes of individuals with hyperuricemia. The objective of this study is to examine the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in individuals with hyperuricemia. This study included 3093 adult participants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2010. Participants were categorized into 4 groups based on quartiles of DII to demonstrate data characteristics, with sample weights considered. The relationship between DII and the risk of hyperuricemia was examined using multivariable logistic regression models. Kaplan-Meier models and Cox proportional hazards models were employed to assess the relationship between DII levels and the all-cause mortality in individuals with hyperuricemia, with the non-linear relationship tested using restricted cubic splines (RCS). Competing risk models were employed to investigate the association between DII levels and the CVD mortality in individuals diagnosed with hyperuricemia. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed to confirm the robustness and reliability of the findings. Among the participants, 47.95% were aged over 60 years. A positive association observed between the highest quartile of DII level and the incidence of hyperuricemia (OR: 1.34, CI [1.13, 1.57]). Elevated DII levels were correlated with increased all-cause mortality (P value < .001) and CVD mortality (P value < .001) in participants. In comparison to the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of DII exhibited a 31% rise in all-cause mortality (HR: 1.31, CI [1.01, 1.68]) and a 50% increase in CVD mortality (HR: 1.50, CI [1.00, 2.26]). No indication of a nonlinear association between DII levels and all-cause mortality (p-non-linear = .43). These findings indicate a positive correlation between the pro-inflammatory diet and the incidence of hyperuricemia. Additionally, a pro-inflammatory diet may elevate the all-cause and CVD mortality in individuals with hyperuricemia.

Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is one of the most fatal diseases in the world. The associated thickening of the arterial wall and its background and consequences make it a very composite disease entity with many mechanisms that lead to its creation. It is an active process, and scientists from various branches are engaged in research, including molecular biologists, cardiologists, and immunologists. This review summarizes the available information on the pathophysiological implications of atherosclerosis, focusing on endothelium dysfunction, inflammatory factors, aging, and uric acid, vitamin D, and miRNA expression as recent evidence of interactions of the molecular and cellular elements. Analyzing new discoveries for the underlying causes of this condition assists the general research to improve understanding of the mechanism of pathophysiology and thus prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The interaction between uric acid and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

The significance of uric acid (UA) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains controversial. This study investigated the effect of the interaction between UA and HDL-C on the prognosis of patients with AMI.

Methods

In total, 480 patients with AMI were included in this study. Baseline and follow-up data were collected, and the primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary endpoint was all-cause death. Both additive and multiplicative interactions were calculated to evaluate their interaction with prognosis. Then, the impact of UA and HDL-C ratio (UHR) on prognosis was assessed.

Results

Over a median follow-up period of 41 (30,46) months, 136 (28.3%) MACEs, and 44 (9.2%) deaths were recorded. There was a positive additive interaction between UA and HDL-C for MACEs. The attributable proportion (AP) showed that 46% of the estimated effect (MACE in patients) was attributable to this interaction. The synergy index (SI) was 2.04 (1.07,3.88) for MACE, indicating that the risk for patients presenting with both risk factors was greater than the sum of the risk factors alone. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that UHR independently predicted MACEs and mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curves according to tertiles of UHR showed statistically significant differences in MACE (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of UHR for predicting MACE was 0.716.

Conclusion

The coexistence of high UA and low HDL-C has a synergistic effect and provides further information for risk stratification of patients with AMI. UHR is a simple and easily available prognostic indicator independent of traditional risk factors.

Machine-learning-based analysis of the sensitivity and specificity on lipid-lowering effect of one-month-administered statins

Few predictive studies have been reported on the efficacy of atorvastatin in reducing lipoprotein cholesterol to be qualified after 1-month course of treatment in different individuals. A total of 14,180 community-based residents aged ≥ 65 received health checkup, 1013 of whom had low-density lipoprotein (LDL) higher than 2.6mmol/L so that they were put on 1-month course of treatment with atorvastatin. At its completion, lipoprotein cholesterol was measured again. With < 2.6 mmol/L considered as the treatment standard, 411 individuals were judged as the qualified group, and 602, and as the unqualified group. The basic sociodemographic features covered 57 items. The data were randomly divided into train sets and test ones. The recursive random-forest algorithm was applied to predicting the patients response to atorvastatin, the recursive feature elimination method, to screening all the physical indicators. The overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were calculated, respectively, and so were the receiver operator characteristic curve and the area under the curve of the test set. In the prediction model on the efficacy of 1-month treatment of statins for LDL, the sensitivity, 86.86%; and the specificity, 94.83%. In the prediction model on the efficacy of the same treatment for triglyceride, the sensitivity, 71.21%; and the specificity, 73.46%. As to the prediction of total cholesterol, the sensitivity, 94.38%; and the specificity, 96.55%. And in the case of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the sensitivity, 84.86%; and the specificity, 100%. recursive feature elimination analysis showed that total cholesterol was the most important feature of atorvastatin efficacy of reducing LDL; that HDL was the most important one of its efficacies of reducing triglycerides; that LDL was the most important one of its efficacies of reducing total cholesterol; and that triglyceride was the most important one of its efficacies of reducing HDL. Random-forest can help predict whether atorvastatin efficacy of reducing lipoprotein cholesterol to be qualified after 1-month course of treatment in different individuals.

Modulatory effect of camel milk on intestinal microbiota of mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic disease of life, usually caused by unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Compared to normal individuals, the structure of the intestinal flora of NAFLD patients is altered accordingly. This study investigates the effect of camel milk on the regulation of intestinal flora structure in mice with high-fat diet-induced NAFLD. NAFLD model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, meanwhile camel milk (3.0 g/kg/d), cow milk (3.0 g/kg/d), and silymarin (200 mg/kg/d) were administered by gavage, respectively. Food intake and changes of physiological indexes in mice were observed and recorded. The 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region was sequenced and the intestinal flora diversity and gene function were predicted in the colon contents of mice from different group. The results showed that camel milk enhanced glucolipid metabolism by downregulate the levels of blood glucose and triglyceride (TG) in serum, reduced lipid accumulation by downregulate the level of TG in the liver and improved liver tissue structure in NAFLD mice (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, camel milk had a positive modulatory effect on the intestinal flora of NAFLD mice, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and decreasing the relative abundance of harmful bacteria in the intestinal flora of NAFLD mice, and silymarin had a similar modulatory effect. At the genus level, camel milk increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, norank_f_Muribaculaceae and Alloprevotella and decreased the relative abundance of Dubosiella and Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 (p < 0.05). Camel milk also enhanced Carbohydrate metabolism, Amino acid metabolism, Energy metabolism, Metabolism of cofactors and vitamins and Lipid metabolism in NAFLD mice, thus reducing the degree of hepatic lipid accumulation in NAFLD mice and maintaining the normal structure of the liver. In conclusion, camel milk can improve the structure and diversity of intestinal flora and enhance the levels of substance and energy metabolism in NAFLD mice, which has a positive effect on alleviating NAFLD and improving the structure of intestinal flora.

Serum LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and the risk of carotid plaques: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia contributes to an increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis. However, the association between the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and carotid plaque formation has not been well documented. This study aims to assess the role of LDL-C/HDL-C in the risk of carotid plaque formation in a Chinese population.

METHODS

We followed 2,191 participants who attended the annual routine health examination. Cox proportional hazards regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and subgroup analysis were applied to evaluate the association between the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid plaques. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the strength of the association.

RESULTS

Among 2,191 participants, 388 had incident carotid plaques detected, with a median follow-up time of 1.05 years. Compared with subjects younger than 45 years, those aged 45 to 59 years (HR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.55-2.58) and over 60 years (HR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.47-4.58) had an increased risk of carotid plaque formation. Males (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01-1.56), diabetes (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06-2.01) and a high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.07-1.38) were significantly linked with the occurrence of carotid plaques. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, we observed that a high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio promoted carotid plaque events (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12-1.50). The RCS analysis revealed a significant nonlinear association. The association was stronger among females (P-interaction < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

A high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio could accelerate the occurrence of carotid plaques. Older men with diabetes and dyslipidemia are the critical target population. Women may be more likely to benefit from lipid-lowering interventions and thus avoid carotid plaque formation.