Remnant cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and incident cardiovascular disease among Koreans: a national population-based study

Cumulative remnant cholesterol exposure during young adulthood and middle age and risk of cardiovascular events: A 30-year population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Remnant cholesterol (RC) is recognized as a residual risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Most studies on the association between RC and CVD have focused on RC level at a single time point, typically during middle or older age. Limited data have characterized long-term RC exposures among young adult. Here we aimed to investigate the association of cumulative RC exposure during young adulthood and middle age with incident CVD later in life.

METHODS

This cohort study enrolled 3416 CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) participants aged 18-30 years. Cumulative RC exposure was determined as cumulative RC and time-weighted average (TWA) RC during young adulthood and middle age. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were employed to examine the association between cumulative RC exposure and incident CVD.

RESULTS

Of the 3416 included participants, 193 (5.6%) primary CVD outcomes occurred with a median 30.4-year follow-up. In multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models that adjusted for LDL-C level, the most recent RC level and other CVD risk factors, the hazard ratios for primary CVD ourtcomes were as follows: 2.01 (95% CI, 1.23-3.27; P for trend = 0.021) for cumulative RC, and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.28-3.47; P for trend = 0.011) for TWA RC. Similar results were observed in other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater exposures to cumulative RC and TWA RC during young adulthood and middle age were independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, suggesting that maintaining low RC levels early in life may reduce the lifetime CVD risk.

Hypercholesterolemia and inflammation-Cooperative cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND

Maintaining low concentrations of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) over time decreases the number of LDL particles trapped within the artery wall, slows the progression of atherosclerosis and delays the age at which mature atherosclerotic plaques develop. This substantially reduces the lifetime risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. In this context, plaque development and vulnerability result not only from lipid accumulation but also from inflammation.

RESULTS

Changes in the composition of immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, mast cells and neutrophils, along with altered cytokine and chemokine release, disrupt the equilibrium between inflammation and anti-inflammatory mechanisms at plaque sites. Considering that it is not a competition between LDLc and inflammation, but instead that they are partners in crime, the present narrative review aims to give an overview of the main inflammatory molecular pathways linked to raised LDLc concentrations and to describe the impact of lipid-lowering approaches on the inflammatory and lipid burden. Although remarkable changes in LDLc are driven by the most recent lipid lowering combinations, the relative reduction in plasma C-reactive protein appears to be independent of the magnitude of LDLc lowering.

CONCLUSION

Identifying clinical biomarkers of inflammation (e.g. interleukin-6) and possible targets for therapy holds promise for monitoring and reducing the ASCVD burden in suitable patients.

Association of remnant cholesterol with sarcopenia in Korean adults: a nationwide population-based study using data from the KNHANES

Background

Mounting evidence indicates the importance of the interplay between skeletal muscles and lipid metabolism. Remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) is considered one of the principal residual risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders; however, there are limited studies on the impact of remnant-C on sarcopenia.

Methods

Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) between 2008 and 2011 were used in this nationwide population-based study. In total, 17,408 participants were enrolled in this study. The subjects were categorized into four groups according to the quartile of remnant-C values. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between remnant-C and muscle mass measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results

A total of 1,791 participants (10.3%) presented low muscle mass, and there was a sequential increase in the percentage of low muscle mass across remnant-C quartiles (Q1, 5.2%; Q2, 8.7%; Q3, 11.5%; Q4, 15.7%). In the full adjusted model, those in the highest remnant-C quartile group showed significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for low muscle mass compared with those in the lowest remnant-C group after adjusting for various confounding factors (OR = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-1.68, P <0.05). A wide range of subgroups and sensitivity analyses showed consistent results, supporting the robustness of our findings.

Conclusions

Increased remnant-C value was associated with a high risk of low muscle mass in the Korean population. Remnant-C may be a novel marker for the prediction and management of sarcopenia in aging societies.

Discordant High Remnant Cholesterol With LDL-C Increases the Risk of Stroke: A Chinese Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies focusing on assessing the effects of remnant cholesterol (RC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on stroke may not consider their mutual influence. We aimed to explore the associations of RC and discordant high RC with LDL-C with stroke, ischemic stroke (IS), and hemorrhagic stroke.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted based on 3 cohorts of the China-PAR (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China) project. RC was calculated as non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol minus LDL-C estimated by Martin/Hopkins equations. Concordant/discordant categories for RC versus LDL-C were determined based on cut-points of 130 mg/dL for LDL-C and equivalent percentile (32.50 mg/dL) for RC. Cox models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs for incident stroke.

RESULTS

Among 113 448 participants recruited at baseline, a total of 98 967 participants were eligible for the final analysis (mean age of 51.44 years; 40.45% were men). During 728 776.87 person-years of follow-up, 2859 stroke cases, 1811 IS cases, and 849 hemorrhagic stroke cases were observed. RC was positively associated with stroke and IS, but not hemorrhagic stroke, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 1.06 (1.02-1.10), 1.09 (1.04-1.13), and 0.95 (0.88-1.03) for per SD increase in RC. Compared with low LDL-C/low RC group, low LDL-C/high RC group had higher risks of stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.02-1.30]) and IS (1.19, 1.03-1.38), while high LDL-C/low RC group had no increased risk of stroke (1.07 [0.95-1.20]) and IS (1.09 [0.94-1.25]).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher RC was associated with increased risks of stroke and IS but not hemorrhagic stroke. Discordantly high RC, not discordantly high LDL-C, conferred higher risks of stroke and IS. Our findings support further lowering RC by interventions to reduce residual IS risk.

Remnant cholesterol as a residual risk in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients under statin-based lipid-lowering therapy: A post hoc analysis of the RACING trial

BACKGROUND

Remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) levels during lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) may indicate residual risk.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes based on on-treatment remnant-C distribution in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) under statin-based LLT.

METHODS

In this post hoc analysis of the RACING trial, 3,348 ASCVD patients with lipid profiles 1 year after randomization were investigated. Remnant-C was calculated as total cholesterol minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The primary endpoint was a 3-year composite of cardiovascular death, major cardiovascular events, or non-fatal stroke.

RESULTS

The study population was grouped into tertiles according to on-treatment remnant-C: high (> 20.5 mg/dL; n = 1,116), intermediate (14‒20.5 mg/dL; n = 1,031), and low (≤14.0 mg/dL; n = 1,201) remnant-C groups. The high remnant-C group showed the highest incidence of the primary endpoint at 3 years (11.0 %, 10.3 %, and 7.5 % in the high, intermediate, and low remnant-C groups, respectively; p = 0.009). The high remnant-C levels at 1 year were independently associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome, whereas achieving LDL-C <55 or 70 mg/dL was not associated with the incidence of the primary endpoint. The on-treatment remnant-C cut-off of 17 mg/dL (median) demonstrated the ability to discriminate between patients at higher and lower risks for the primary endpoints (hazard ratio: 1.42; 95 % confidence interval: 1.14‒1.78; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ASCVD undergoing statin-based LLT, high on-treatment remnant-C values were associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. On-treatment remnant-C levels may serve as an additional means of assessing residual cardiovascular risk.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials. gov ID: NCT03044665.

Predictive utility of remnant cholesterol in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Remnant cholesterol (RC) is the cholesterol carried in lipoproteins derived from the catabolism of chylomicrons and very low-density lipoproteins. Evidence supporting the causal relationship of RC with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASVD) is accumulating rapidly. The number of impactful contributions to this field are increasing and provide a pathophysiological insight into the current residual cardiovascular risk beyond low-density cholesterol (LDL)-cholesterol (LDL-C). They also raise the question of whether RC should be used in prediction models and become the target of new therapeutic interventions. The intent of this review is to highlight the recent advances on the role of RC in atherogenesis and the validation of RC as a predictor of ASVD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Numerous prospective and retrospective cohorts helped validate a significant causal relationship of RC with various forms of ASVD, independent of LDL-C. A recent large Mendelian randomization study reinforced the existence of this relationship and showed that the risk of atherosclerotic events was driven nearly entirely by a direct effect of RC.

SUMMARY

Both available and accumulating evidence suggest that a lifelong reduction in RC could translate into a substantial reduction in ASVD risk. The data support a revision of current guidelines to incorporate RC as an independent risk factor for ASVD. We propose that early screening of RC should be implemented and that RC lowering should become the target of future drug developments.

Discordance between Remnant Cholesterol and Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Predicts Cardiovascular Disease: the Kailuan Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that remnant cholesterol (RC) was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study aim to identify the association of RC and the discordance between RC and lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with CVD.

METHODS

Data was obtained from the Kailuan study. RC was calculated as the non high-density lipoprotein cholesterol minus LDL-C. Discordant RC and LDL-C were defined by percentile difference and clinical cutoff points. Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the association of RC and the discordance between RC and LDL-C with CVD.

RESULTS

Total of 96,769 participants were inclued, with the median age of 51.61 years, 79.56% of male. There was a significant association between RC levels and the risk of CVD, with an HR of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.08-1.13) in the continuous analysis. The discordantly high RC group had a significant increase in CVD, MI, and stroke risk, with HRs of 1.18 (95%CI, 1.10-1.26), 1.23 (1.06-1.43), and 1.15 (1.07-1.24), respectively. Compared to the group with low LDL-C and low RC, the group with low LDL-C and high RC had significantly higher incidences of CVD (HR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.26-1.40]), MI (HR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.41-1.80]), and stroke (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.20-1.35]).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of RC and discordantly high RC with LDL-C both were associated with the risk of CVD, MI, and stroke. These findings demonstrate the clinical significance of identifying residual risk related to RC.

Dietary supplements: clinical cholesterol-lowering efficacy and potential mechanisms of action

This review aims to analyse the efficacy of dietary supplements in reducing plasma cholesterol levels. Focusing on evidence from meta-analyses of randomised controlled clinical trials, with an emphasis on potential mechanisms of action as supported by human, animal, and cell studies. Certain dietary supplements including phytosterols, berberine, viscous soluble dietary fibres, garlic supplements, soy protein, specific probiotic strains, and certain polyphenol extracts could significantly reduce plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 3-25% in hypercholesterolemic patients depending on the type of supplement. They tended to be more effective in reducing plasma LDL cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic individuals than in normocholesterolemic individuals. These supplements worked by various mechanisms, such as enhancing the excretion of bile acids, inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, increasing the expression of hepatic LDL receptors, suppressing the activity of enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis, and activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signalling pathway.

Remnant cholesterol as a new lipid-lowering target to reduce cardiovascular events

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Remnant cholesterol has become increasingly recognized as a direct contributor to the development of atherosclerosis and as an additional marker of cardiovascular risk. This review aims to summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms, and the current evidence base from epidemiological investigations and genetic studies that support a causal link between remnant cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Current and novel therapeutic approaches to target remnant cholesterol are discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

A recent Mendelian randomization study of over 12 000 000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with high levels of remnant cholesterol, demonstrated a genetic association between remnant cholesterol and adverse cardiovascular events among 958 434 participants.

SUMMARY

In this light, the emerging role of remnant cholesterol as an independent lipid risk marker warrants a reevaluation of lipid management guidelines and underscores the potential for novel therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Remnant cholesterol is associated with unstable carotid plaque in a neurologically healthy population

BACKGROUND

Remnant cholesterol (RC) is considered to be one of the most significant and important risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Nonetheless, the association between RC and unstable carotid plaque remains unclear. Our primary objective is to ascertain whether RC exhibits an independent and significant association with unstable carotid plaque in a neurologically healthy population.

METHODS

In the cross-sectional study, we enrolled neurologically healthy participants who visited our centre for health checkups between 2021 and 2022. All eligible participants underwent a standardised questionnaire, physical examinations and laboratory testing. The carotid plaque was evaluated with a standard carotid ultrasound and an advanced ultrasound imaging technique called superb microvascular imaging. The correlation between lipids and unstable carotid plaque was primarily assessed utilising univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

The study totally enrolled 1100 participants who had an average age of 57.00 years (IQR: 49.00-63.00), with 67.55% being men. Among the participants, 321 (29.18%) had unstable carotid plaque. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher RC had an independent association with an elevated incidence of unstable carotid plaque compared with the lowest concentrations of RC (OR=1.673, 95% CI 1.113 to 2.515, p=0.0134), but not other lipids. In addition, apolipoprotein A1 was negatively related to unstable carotid plaque (OR=0.549, 95% CI 0.364 to 0.830, p=0.0045).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated concentrations of RC are independently and excellently correlated with unstable carotid plaque within a neurologically healthy population.

Remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation jointly in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: implications for clinical trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death despite the development of effective treatments. Recently, elevated remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation have emerged as factors explaining part of the residual ASCVD risk. Interestingly, the coexistence of both high remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation can further increase the risk of ASCVD. The aim of this review is to describe the role of elevated remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation, separately and combined, in ASCVD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Results from recently published studies, including observational and genetic Mendelian randomization studies, support a causal relationship between elevated remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation on risk of ASCVD in both primary and secondary prevention settings. In addition, current evidence from observational studies suggests that the coexistence of elevated remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation further increases the risk of ASCVD.

SUMMARY

Recent observational studies suggest that high remnant cholesterol combined with low-grade inflammation may confer a particular high risk for ASCVD. Attention on the dual threat from high remnant cholesterol and low-grade inflammation is necessary, and further research in this field is warranted. The effect of remnant cholesterol-lowering drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs on ASCVD risk alone and combined remains to be elucidated.

VIDEO ABSTRACT

http://links.lww.com/COCN/A20.

Associations of remnant cholesterol with cardiovascular and cancer mortality in a nationwide cohort

The health significance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, also known as remnant cholesterol, has been increasingly recognized. However, evidence of their associations with cause-specific mortality in the general population was previously insufficient. To explore these associations and their heterogeneities across subgroups, a prospective cohort study was conducted including 3,403,414 community-based participants from ChinaHEART, an ongoing government-funded public health program throughout China, from November 2014 through December 2022. The study assessed mortality risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (including mortality from ischemic heart diseases (IHD), ischemic stroke (IS), and hemorrhagic stroke (HS), separately), and cancer mortality (including lung cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer, separately). During the 4-year follow-up, 23,646 individuals died from CVD (including 8807 from IHD, 3067 from IS, and 5190 from HS), and 20,318 from cancer (including 6208 from lung cancer, 3013 from liver cancer, and 2174 from stomach cancer). Compared with individuals with remnant cholesterol <17.9 mg/dL, multivariable-adjusted mortality hazard ratios (HRs) for individuals with remnant cholesterol ≥27.7 mg/dL were 1.03 (1.00-1.05) for all-cause mortality, 1.17 (1.12-1.21) for CVD (1.19 (1.12-1.27) for IHD mortality, and 1.22 (1.09-1.36) for IS mortality), and 0.90 (0.87-0.94) for all-cancer mortality (0.94 (0.87-1.02) for lung cancer, 0.59 (0.53-0.66) for liver cancer, and 0.73 (0.64-0.83) for stomach cancer). In summary, this study revealed a correlation between increased remnant cholesterol levels and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, as well as a reduced risk of mortality for certain types of cancer.

The association between remnant cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis: insights from a large population study

OBJECTIVES

While lipid metabolism disorder is widely acknowledged as a contributing factor to inflammation, the association between remnant cholesterol (RC), which indicates lipid metabolism, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been investigated. Accordingly, this study evaluated whether RC is associated with RA disease events.

METHODS

Data were collected and specifically extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2008 database. The RC value was derived by subtracting the combined amount of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) from the total cholesterol (TC). The association between RC and RA was evaluated using multivariate regression analysis and subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

The study analyzed 7777 patients, of which 581 patients (7.47%) were diagnosed with RA. After accounting for different covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a notable correlation between increased RC levels and an increased likelihood of RA (odds ratio OR = 1.54; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.11-2.13; P = 0.0092). The interaction test did not yield statistically significant effects on this association. The linear correlation between RC and RA was observed within restricted cubic spline regression model limitations.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that higher RC levels are associated with increased odds of RA, indicating that RC can serve as a novel and convenient index for forecasting the likelihood of RA in the United States. Additionally, these findings offer insights into early intervention strategies for susceptible populations at risk of developing RA.

Cumulative residual cholesterol predicts the risk of cardiovascular disease in the general population aged 45 years and older

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have affirmed a robust correlation between residual cholesterol (RC) and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the current body of literature fails to adequately address the link between alterations in RC and the occurrence of CVD. Existing studies have focused mainly on individual RC values. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to elucidate the association between the cumulative RC (Cum-RC) and the morbidity of CVD.

METHODS

The changes in RC were categorized into a high-level fast-growth group (Class 1) and a low-level slow-growth group (Class 2) by K-means cluster analysis. To investigate the relationship between combined exposure to multiple lipids and CVD risk, a weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression analysis was employed. This analysis involved the calculation of weights for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which were used to effectively elucidate the RC.

RESULTS

Among the cohort of 5,372 research participants, a considerable proportion of 45.94% consisted of males, with a median age of 58. In the three years of follow-up, 669 participants (12.45%) had CVD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that Class 2 individuals had a significantly reduced risk of developing CVD compared to Class 1. The probability of having CVD increased by 13% for every 1-unit increase in the Cum-RC according to the analysis of continuous variables. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis showed that Cum-RC and CVD risk were linearly related (P for nonlinearity = 0.679). The WQS regression results showed a nonsignificant trend toward an association between the WQS index and CVD incidence but an overall positive trend, with the greatest contribution from TC (weight = 0.652), followed by LDL (weight = 0.348).

CONCLUSION

Cum-RC was positively and strongly related to CVD risk, suggesting that in addition to focusing on traditional lipid markers, early intervention in patients with increased RC may further reduce the incidence of CVD.

Association between remnant cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease: post hoc analysis of a prospective national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic evidence suggested that remnant cholesterol (RC) is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In recent years, RC has been connected with different types of cardiometabolic disorders. We aim to clarify the relationship among RC, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and subsequent CVD.

METHODS

We enrolled 7471 individuals into our study from China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009 and followed participants till 2015. RC was calculated as total cholesterol minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CVD was defined as myocardial infarction and stroke. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between RC and MetS as well as CVD. We further investigated whether the association between RC and CVD was mediated by MetS.

RESULTS

Of all subjects, 24.73% were diagnosed with MetS and 2.74% developed CVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis elucidated that per-tertile-increase in RC was associated with MetS after adjusting all the confounder factors, (odds ratio: 3.49, 95% confidence interval CI 3.21-3.79, P for trend < 0.001). And per-tertile-increase RC had a significant increased risk of CVD (hazard ratio: 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.50, P for trend = 0.008). Meanwhile, we found that RC level is associated with the prevalence of all the components of MetS. Significant indirect effects of RC between MetS and CVD were found, with the index mediated at 48.46% of the association.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides the evidence that RC level is independently associated with the prevalence of MetS and each component of MetS. MetS partially mediated the association between RC level and CVD risk.

Remnant cholesterol, but not other cholesterol parameters, is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

No evidence has been found of a relationship between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the likelihood of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women. The aim of our study was to investigate the link between serum RC at 12-14 weeks of gestation and the risk of GDM.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis with data from a prospective cohort study in Korea. A total of 590 single pregnant women attending two hospitals in Korea, up to 14 weeks gestation, from November 2014 to July 2016 were included in the study. The formula used to calculate RC in detail was RC (mg/dL) = TC (mg/dL)-HDL-c (mg/dL)-LDL-c (mg/dL). Logistic regression models were employed to examine the relationship between RC and GDM and explore the association between other lipoprotein cholesterol parameters and the risk of GDM. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the ability of RC to identify GDM. Additionally, sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 32.06 ± 3.80 years. The median of RC was 34.66 mg/dL. 37 pregnant women (6.27%) were eventually diagnosed with GDM. Multivariate adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that RC was positively associated with the risk of GDM (OR = 1.458, 95% CI 1.221, 1.741). There was no significant association between other lipoprotein cholesterols (including TC, LDL-c, HDL-c) and the risk of GDM. The area under the ROC curve for RC as a predictor of GDM was 0.8038 (95% CI 0.7338-0.8738), and the optimal RC cut-off was 24.30 mg/dL. Our findings were demonstrated to be robust by performing a series of sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

Serum RC levels at 12-14 weeks of gestation are positively associated with GDM risk in pregnant women. RC in early pregnancy is an early warning indicator of GDM in pregnant women, especially those with normal HDL-c, LDL-c, and TC that are easily overlooked. There is a high risk of developing GDM in pregnant women whose RC is more than 24.30 mg/dL. This study may help optimize GDM prevention in pregnant women and facilitate communication between physicians, pregnant patients, and their families.

Association of remnant cholesterol with frailty: findings from observational and Mendelian randomization analyses

BACKGROUND

Recent insights suggest that remnant cholesterol (RC) plays a role in cellular senescence, yet its specific contribution to frailty remains indeterminate. Through the integration of observational and mendelian randomization (MR) studies, this research explores the impact of elevated serum RC levels on frailty susceptibility.

METHODS

A dual-method approach, combining an observational study with an MR study, was employed to investigate the connection between RC and frailty. The observational study included 11,838 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching were employed to control for potential confounders. The non-linear relationship was assessed using restricted cubic splines. To circumvent observational study limitations, a two-sample MR analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted method, leveraging genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data.

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the observational study identified a significant association between high serum RC levels and frailty in middle-aged and older adults (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20 to 2.33, P = 0.003), exhibiting a non-linear dose-response correlation (non-linear P = 0.011). This association persisted after propensity score matching (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.14 to 2.06, P = 0.005). The MR study echoed these results, demonstrating a causal association of RC with the frailty index (β = 0.059, 95% CI = 0.033 to 0.085, P = 1.05E-05), consistent with the observational findings (β = 0.017, 95% CI = 0.008 to 0.026, P = 4.51E-04).

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that higher RC levels amplify frailty risk in middle-aged and older adults, implying that the reduction of RC levels may present a promising strategy for frailty prevention and management.

Separate and Joint Associations of Remnant Cholesterol Accumulation and Variability With Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background We aimed to examine separate and joint associations of remnant cholesterol (RC) accumulation and variability with the risk of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) in the general population. Methods and Results A total of 6213 participants who underwent 3 sequential health examinations during 2010 to 2015 were enrolled and were followed up until December 31, 2021. Cumulative RC (cumRC) and RC variability among the 3 visits were the exposure of interest in our study. Adjusted Cox models were performed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI. C-statistics, integrated discrimination improvement, and the net reclassification index were used to estimate the incremental predictive ability. During a median follow-up of 4.00 years, 2613 participants developed CAS. Higher cumRC (HR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.17-1.52]) and greater RC variability (HR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.08-1.39]) were significantly associated with elevated risk of CAS, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the median of cumRC and RC variability to assess their joint associations. Compared with "low cumRC and low variability," "high cumRC and high variability" had the highest risk of CAS, followed by "high cumRC and low variability" and "low cumRC and high variability." Finally, joint assessment of RC accumulation and variability had the significantly highest incremental effect on the predictive value of CAS versus single-time-point measures of RC. Conclusions Excessive cumRC levels and greater RC variability were each independently associated with higher incidence of CAS, and their coexistence could further yield significantly higher risks.