High-Density Lipoprotein Subclasses and Noncardiovascular, Noncancer Chronic Inflammatory-Related Events Versus Cardiovascular Events: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Low HDL-C/ApoA-I index is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and coronary artery calcium: a sub-analysis of the genetics of atherosclerotic disease (GEA) study

BACKGROUND

The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to apolipoprotein A-I index (HDL-C/ApoA-I) may be practical and useful in clinical practice as a marker of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the association between the HDL-C/ApoA-I index with cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional sub-analysis of the GEA study, 1,363 individuals, women (51.3%) and men (48.7%) between 20 and 75 years old, without coronary heart disease or diabetes mellitus were included. We defined an adverse cardiometabolic profile as excess adipose tissue metrics, non-alcoholic liver fat measured by non-contrasted tomography, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemias, and insulin resistance. The population was stratified by quartiles of the HDL-C/Apo-AI index, and its dose-relationship associations were analysed using Tobit regression, binomial, and multinomial logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Body mass index, visceral and pericardial fat, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, high blood pressure, and CAC were inversely associated with the HDL-C/ApoA-I index. The CAC > 0 prevalence was higher in quartile 1 (29.2%) than in the last quartile (22%) of HDL-C/ApoA-I index (p = 0.035). The probability of having CAC > 0 was higher when the HDL-C/ApoA-I index was less than 0.28 (p < 0.001). This association was independent of classical coronary risk factors, visceral and pericardial fat measurements.

CONCLUSION

The HDL-C/ApoA-I index is inversely associated with an adverse cardiometabolic profile and CAC score, making it a potentially useful and practical biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis. Overall, these findings suggest that the HDL-C/ApoA-I index could be useful for evaluating the probability of having higher cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in adults without CAD.

Novel Size-Based High-Density Lipoprotein Subspecies and Incident Vascular Events

Background High-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle concentration likely outperforms HDL cholesterol in predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. Whether size-based HDL subspecies explain the atheroprotective associations of HDL particle concentration remains unknown. Our objective was to assess whether levels of specific size-based HDL subspecies associate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in a multiethnic pooled cohort and improve risk prediction beyond traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors. Methods and Results Seven HDL size-based subspecies were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance (LP4 algorithm; H1=smallest; H7=largest) among participants without prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), PREVEND (Prevention of Renal and Vascular Endstage Disease), and DHS (Dallas Heart Study) cohorts (n=15 371 people). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between HDL subspecies and incident myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemic stroke at follow-up (average 8-10 years) adjusting for HDL cholesterol and risk factors. Improvement in risk prediction was assessed via discrimination and reclassification analysis. Within the pooled cohort (median age 57 years; female 54%; Black 22%) higher H1 (small) and H4 (medium) concentrations were inversely associated with incident MI (hazard ratio [HR]/SD, H1 0.88 [95% CI, 0.81-0.94]; H4 0.89 [95% CI, 0.82-0.97]). H4 but not H1 improved risk prediction indices for incident MI. Increasing H2 and H4 were inversely associated with improved risk prediction indices for composite end point of stroke, MI, and cardiovascular death (HR/SD, H2 0.94 [95% CI, 0.88-0.99]; H4 0.91 [95% CI, 0.85-0.98]). Levels of the large subspecies (H6 and H7) were not associated with any vascular end point. Conclusions Two of 7 HDL size-based subspecies modestly improved risk prediction for MI and composite vascular end points in a large multiethnic pooled cohort. These findings support assessment of precise HDL subspecies for future studies regarding clinical utility.

Ethnic Enclaves and Incidence of Cancer Among US Ethnic Minorities in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Since immigrants and their descendants represent a growing proportion of the US population, there is a strong demographic imperative for scientists to better understand the cancer risk factors at multiple levels that exist for these populations. Understanding the upstream causes of cancer, including neighborhood context, may help prevention efforts. Residence in ethnic enclaves may be one such contextual cause; however, the evidence is mixed, and past research has not utilized prospective designs examining cancer incidence or mortality.

METHODS

We examined the association between residency in ethnic enclaves and cancer events among Hispanic (n = 753) and Chinese (n = 451) participants without a history of cancer in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a prospective cohort study that enrolled participants ages 45-84 in six US cities. Cancer events included deaths and hospitalization for any cancer diagnosis from 2000-2012. Residency in an ethnic enclave was operationalized as their geocoded baseline census tract having a concentration of residents of the same ethnicity greater than the 75th percentile (compared to non-ethnic enclave otherwise). Potential confounders were blocked into three categories: sociodemographic, acculturation, and biomedical/health behavior variables. To examine the association between ethnic enclaves and cancer, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Among Hispanic participants, residing in ethnic enclaves (vs. not) was associated with a 39% reduction in cancer risk (HR 0.61, 95%CI: 0.31, 1.21) after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Among Chinese participants, residing in ethnic enclaves was associated with a 2.8-fold increase in cancer risk (HR 2.86, 95%CI; 1.38, 5.94) after adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the association between ethnic enclaves and cancer events differs by ethnic group, suggesting that different social and contextual factors may operate in different communities.

Relationship between the neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Objective

To evaluate the link between the neutrophil to HDL-C ratio (NHR) and the degree of coronary stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Materials and methods

Totally 766 individuals who attended our clinic for coronary angiography between January 2019 and January 2021 were included in this study. The participants were divided into two groups, including the CAD group and control group. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the association between NHR and Gensini score and logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of NHR on CAD and severe CAD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to analyze the predictive value of NHR for severe CAD.

Results

The CAD group had a substantially higher median NHR than the control group (3.7 vs. 3.2, P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between NHR and Gensini score, as well as the frequency of coronary artery plaques. Logistic regression demonstrated that NHR was an independent contributor for CAD and severe CAD. In ROC analysis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for NHR was larger than that for neutrophil, HDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The NHR limit that offered the most accurate prediction of severe CAD according to the greatest possible value of the Youden index, was 3.88, with a sensitivity of 62.6% and a specificity of 66.2%.

Conclusion

NHR was not only associated with the occurrence and seriousness of CAD, but also a better predictor of severe CAD than neutrophil, HDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C.

GlycA, hsCRP differentially associated with MI, ischemic stroke: In the Dallas Heart Study and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis: GlycA, hsCRP Differentially Associated MI, Stroke

Objective

Inflammatory markers are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the ability to specifically predict myocardial infarction (MI) as well as ischemic stroke remains unknown. There has not been a direct comparison of the associations between GlycA and hsCRP and MI and ischemic stroke in a multi-ethnic pooled cohort.

Methods

Multi-center, multi-ethnic, population-based community prospective pooled cohort of the Dallas Heart Study (DHS) and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). 9,785 participants without baseline CVD enrolled with median follow-up of 13.4 years. Fatal/nonfatal MI and fatal/nonfatal ischemic stroke were assessed separately and then combined.

Results

GlycA was moderately associated with hsCRP (R=0.58 in DHS and R=0.55 in MESA). In adjusted Cox proportional hazards models with competing risk adjusted for both inflammatory markers, GlycA was directly associated with MI (HR Q4 vs. Q1 1.90, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.58), whereas hsCRP was not (HR Q4 vs. Q1 0.92, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.21). Conversely, hsCRP was directly associated with ischemic stroke (HR Q4 vs. Q1 1.73, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.59), but GlycA was not (HR Q4 vs. Q1 1.21, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.90). GlycA improved net reclassification for MI and hsCRP did so for ischemic stroke.

Conclusions

Although both GlycA and hsCRP were associated with incident CVD, GlycA more strongly predicted incident MI, and hsCRP more strongly predicted ischemic stroke.

HDL Composition, Heart Failure, and Its Comorbidities

Although research on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has historically focused on atherosclerotic coronary disease, there exists untapped potential of HDL biology for the treatment of heart failure. Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial protective properties of HDL could impact heart failure pathogenesis. HDL-associated proteins such as apolipoprotein A-I and M may have significant therapeutic effects on the myocardium, in part by modulating signal transduction pathways and sphingosine-1-phosphate biology. Furthermore, because heart failure is a complex syndrome characterized by multiple comorbidities, there are complex interactions between heart failure, its comorbidities, and lipoprotein homeostatic mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss the effects of heart failure and associated comorbidities on HDL, explore potential cardioprotective properties of HDL, and review novel HDL therapeutic targets in heart failure.

White Blood Cell Counts to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio, as a Novel Predictor of Long-Term Adverse Outcomes in Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: White blood cell (WBC) counts and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are widely available in clinical practice. However, the predictive value for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is uncertain. In the present study, we firstly assessed the prognostic value of WBC to HDL-C ratio (WHR) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Six thousand and fifty patients with CAD after PCI from a retrospective cohort study (identifier: ChiCTR-INR-16010153) were evaluated initially. Three hundred and seventy-one patients were excluded due to HDL cholesterol data not available, malignancy, dementia, psoriasis or eczema, systemic connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, chronic liver disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Finally, 5,679 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome was long-term mortality. Secondary endpoints were mainly major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), defined as a combination of stroke, cardiac death, stent thrombosis, recurrent myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. The mean follow-up time of this study was 35.9 ± 22.5 months. We defined the best cutoff value of MHR according to the receiver operating curve (ROC), and then patients were divided into high and low WHR groups according to the cutoff value. We analyzed the data in both an acute coronary syndrome group (ACS) and a stable CAD subgroup, respectively.

Results: Overall, there were 293 cases of long-term mortality during the follow-up period. According to the cutoff value (WHR = 8.25), 1,901 ACS patients were divided into high WHR group (n = 724) and low WHR group (n = 1,177). Compared to low WHR group, the incidence of all-cause mortality (ACM, 5.5 vs. 3.6%, p = 0.048) and cardiac death (4.7vs. 2.9%, p = 0.042) were significantly higher in the high WHR group. In stable CAD group, we also found the incidence of ACM and cardiac death were significantly higher in the high group compared to that in the low group. We did not find significant difference between the high and the low WHR group in the incidence of MACCEs. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that increased WHR level was independently correlated with the mortality. In the high WHR group, the risk of ACM increased two times in ACS [adjusted HR = 2.036 (1.258–3.296), p = 0.004] and 1.5 times in stable CAD [adjusted HR = 1.586 (1.178–2.136), p = 0.002].

Conclusion: The present study indicated that an increased WBC count to HDL-C ratio was independently associated with long-term mortality in CAD patients who underwent PCI.

The association of novel inflammatory marker GlycA and incident atrial fibrillation in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background

Emerging evidence has implicated that inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). GlycA is a novel marker of systemic inflammation with low intra-individual variability and high analytic precision. GlycA has been associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of other inflammatory markers. However, whether GlycA is associated with AF, specifically, has yet to be established. We examined the association between GlycA and AF in a multi-ethnic cohort.

Methods

We studied 6,602 MESA participants aged 45–85, with no clinical CVD at baseline, with data on GlycA and incident AF. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox models to evaluate the association between GlycA and incident AF. We also examined other inflammatory markers [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL6) and fibrinogen] and incident AF for comparison.

Results

The mean (SD) age was 62 (10) years, 53% women. The mean plasma GlycA was 381 (62) μmol/L. Over median follow-up of 12.9 years, 869 participants experienced AF. There was no statistically significant association between GlycA and incident AF after adjusting for sociodemographics, CVD risk factors, and other inflammatory markers [Hazard Ratio (95% CI) per 1 SD increment in GlycA: 0.97 (0.88–1.06)]. Neither hsCRP nor fibrinogen was associated with incident AF in same model. In contrast, IL-6 was independently associated with incident AF [HR 1.12 per 1 SD increment (1.05–1.19)].

Conclusions

Although GlycA has been associated with other CVD types, we found that GlycA was not associated with AF. More research will be required to understand why IL-6 was associated with AF but not GlycA.

Clinical trial registration

MESA is not a clinical trial. However, the cohort is registered at: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00005487 Unique identifier: NCT00005487.

Distinct Differences in Lipoprotein Particle Number Evaluation between GP-HPLC and NMR: Analysis in Dyslipidemic Patients Administered a Selective PPARα Modulator, Pemafibrate

Aim: We established a method to evaluate the lipid concentrations, size and particle numbers (PNs) of lipoprotein subclasses by gel permeation chromatography (GP-HPLC). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is widely used to analyze these parameters of lipoprotein subclasses, but differences of the two methods are unknown. Current study compared the PNs of each lipoprotein subclass measured by GP-HPLC and NMR, and assessed the effect of a selective PPARα modulator, pemafibrate.

Methods: Lipoprotein profiles of 212 patients with dyslipidemia who participated in the phase 2 clinical trial of a selective PPARα modulator, pemafibrate, were analyzed by two methods, GP-HPLC and NMR, which were performed with LipoSEARCH (Skylight Biotech) and LipoProfile 3 (LabCorp), respectively. GP-HPLC evaluated the PNs of 18 subclasses, consisting of CM, VLDL1-5, LDL1-6, and HDL1-6. NMR evaluated the PNs of 9 subclasses, consisting of large VLDL & CM, medium VLDL, small VLDL, IDL, large LDL, small LDL, large HDL, medium HDL and small HDL.

Results: Three major classes, total CM&VLDL, total LDL and total HDL were obtained by grouping of corresponding subclasses in both methods and PNs of these classes analyzed by GP-HPLC were correlated positively with those by NMR. The correlation coefficients in total CM&VLDL, total LDL and total HDL between GP-HPLC and NMR was 0.658, 0.863 and 0.798 (all p ＜0.0001), respectively. The PNs of total CM&VLDL, total LDL and total HDL analyzed by GP-HPLC was 249.5±51.7nM, 1,679±359 nM and 13,273±1,564 nM, respectively, while those by NMR was 124.6±41.8 nM, 1,514±386 nM and 31,161±4,839 nM, respectively. A marked difference in the PNs between the two methods was demonstrated especially in total HDL.

The number of apolipoprotein (Apo) B molecule per one ApoB-containing lipoprotein particle, total CM&VLDL plus total LDL, was 1.10±0.05 by GP-HPLC, while 1.32±0.18 by NMR. The number of ApoA-I per one HDL particle was 3.40±0.17 by GP-HPLC, but only 1.46±0.15 by NMR, much less than reported previously.

From the phase 2 clinical trial, randomizing 212 patients to pemafibrate 0.025-0.2 mg BID, fenofibrate 100 mg QD, or placebo groups, pemafibrate reduced the PNs of CM, large VLDL1-VLDL3 and medium VLDL4, but not small VLDL5 by GP-HPLC. It significantly decreased the PNs of smaller LDL and larger HDL particles, but increased those of larger LDL and smaller HDL particles. In contrast, NMR showed marked variations in the effect of pemafibrate on lipoprotein PNs, and no significant size-dependent changes.

Conclusions: GP-HPLC evaluates the lipoprotein PNs more accurately than NMR and can be used for assessing the effects of lipid-lowering drugs on lipoprotein subclasses.

Association Between Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 Levels and Cardiovascular Events in Obese Patients with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer have a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) levels and cardiovascular events in obese patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Serum HE4 levels in 316 obese patients with breast cancer were measured at baseline and then prospectively followed up for approximately 36 months. The prognostic value of serum HE4 for predicting cardiovascular events was analyzed by the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

Serum HE4 was significantly associated with CVD history after adjustment for confounding factors (OR= 1.50; 95% CI 1.23-3.43; P=0.038) using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis suggested that serum HE4 had an independent prognostic value for predicting cardiovascular events in patients with breast cancer (HR=2.21, 95% CI 1.60-5.13, P<0.001). Additionally, sensitivity analysis showed that the independent association still existed. Stratified analysis showed that this relationship was not affected by chemoradiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Serum HE4 is significantly related to cardiovascular events and poses good prognostic value for predicting cardiovascular events in obese patients with breast cancer. Serum HE4 may be a valuable indicator for the early detection of cardiovascular complications in obese patients with breast cancer.

Differences in HDL particle size in the presence of subclinical thyroid dysfunctions: The ELSA-Brasil study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Thyroid dysfunction is related to several lipid abnormalities. There is no consensus about concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in different studies. The aim of this report is to evaluate HDL particle (HDL-P) subfractions across a spectrum of thyroid functions in a Brazilian population.

METHODS

Individuals were divided into three groups by baseline thyroid function (subclinical hypothyroidism, euthyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism). HDL-P subfractions were analyzed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. To examine the association between HDL-P subfractions and thyroid function, we used univariate and multivariate linear regression models adjusted for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, lifestyle factors, and traditional lipid measurement (HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides).

RESULTS

Of 3304 participants, 54.1% were women, 51.2% white, with mean age 50.6 ± 8.7 years. HDL-C and triglycerides levels (p = 0.032 and p = 0.016, respectively) were higher in the SC hypothyroid group. There were no statistically significant differences in total cholesterol levels and LDL-C levels. In univariate analysis, small HDL-P subfractions were significantly lower in subclinical hypothyroidism (p = 0.026) whereas intermediate HDL-P were higher in subclinical hyperthyroidism (p = 0.049), compared to euthyroidism. After adjustment for demographic data, SC hypothyroidism was still statistically associated with lower levels of small HDL-P. After adjusting for comorbidities, lifestyle factors, and traditional lipid measurements, SC hypothyroidism had an established association with lower levels of small HDL-P while SC hyperthyroidism was associated with lower levels of large HDL-P.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort from a Brazilian population, subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with lower small HDL-P subfractions, and subclinical hyperthyroidism with lower large HDL-P subfractions and higher intermediate HDL-P subfractions.

Treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors induces a more anti-atherogenic HDL lipid profile in patients at high cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9-I) have been reported to cause a moderate increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in human studies. We thus evaluated the effect of two approved PCSK9-I on the concentration and lipid composition of HDL particle subclasses.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

95 patients (62.8 ± 10.3 years old, 58% men), with or without statin and/or ezetimibe treatment and eligible for PCSK9-I therapy, received either evolocumab (140 mg) or alirocumab (75 or 150 mg). Their HDL particle profiles were measured by NMR spectroscopy at baseline and after 4 weeks of PCSK9-I treatment.

RESULTS

PCSK9-I treatment increased the level of HDL-C by 7%. The level of medium-sized HDL particles (M-HDL-P) increased (+8%) while the level of XL-HDL-P decreased (-19%). The lipid core composition was altered in the smaller S- and M-HDL-P, with a reduction in triglycerides (TG) and an enrichment in cholesterol esters (CE), whereas the for the larger XL- and L-HDL-P the relative CE content decreased and the TG content increased. Ezetimibe therapy differentially impacted the HDL particle distribution, independently of statin use, with an increase in S-HDL-P in patients not receiving ezetimibe.

CONCLUSIONS

As S- and M-HDL-P levels are inversely related to cardiovascular risk, PCSK9-I treatment may result in a more atheroprotective HDL particle profile, particularly in patients not concomitantly treated with ezetimibe.

Cardioprotective Properties of HDL: Structural and Functional Considerations

BACKGROUND

As Mendelian Randomization (MR) studies showed no effect of variants altering HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels concerning Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and novel therapeutic interventions aiming to raise HDL-C resulted to futility, the usefulness of HDL-C is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

As the role of HDL-C is currently doubtful, it is suggested that the atheroprotective functions of HDLs can be attributed to the number of HDL particles, and their characteristics including their lipid and protein components. Scientific interest has focused on HDL function and on the causes of rendering HDL particles dysfunctional, whereas the relevance of HDL subclasses with CVD remains controversial.

METHODS

The present review discusses changes in quality as much as in quantity of HDL in pathological conditions and the connection between HDL particle concentration and cardiovascular disease and mortality. Emphasis is given to the recently available data concerning the cholesterol efflux capacity and the parameters that determine HDL functionality, as well as to recent investigations concerning the associations of HDL subclasses with cardiovascular mortality.

RESULTS

MR studies or pharmacological interventions targeting HDL-C are not in favor of the hypothesis of HDL-C levels and the relationship with CVD. The search of biomarkers that relate with HDL functionality is needed. Similarly, HDL particle size and number exhibit controversial data in the context of CVD and further studies are needed.

CONCLUSION

There is no room for the old concept of HDL as a silver bullet,as HDL-C cannot be considered a robust marker and does not reflect the importance of HDL particle size and number. Elucidation of the complex HDL system, as well as the finding of biomarkers, will allow the development of any HDL-targeted therapy.

Association of the Novel Inflammatory Marker GlycA and Incident Heart Failure and Its Subtypes of Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

GlycA, a nuclear magnetic resonance composite marker of systemic inflammation, reflects serum concentration and glycosylation state of main acute phase reactants. Prior studies have shown plasma GlycA levels were associated with cardiovascular disease even after adjusting for other inflammatory markers. However, little is known about the association of GlycA with the heart failure (HF) subtypes: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. We examined the association of GlycA with incident HF and its subtypes in a multiethnic cohort.

METHODS

We studied 6507 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants aged 45 to 84 without baseline cardiovascular disease or HF who had data on GlycA and incident hospitalized HF. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox hazards models to evaluate the association of GlycA with incident total HF, HFpEF, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Models were adjusted for sociodemographics, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and inflammatory biomarkers.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) for age was 62 (10) years and for GlycA was 375 (82) μmol/L; 53% women. Over a median follow-up of 14.0 years, participants in the highest quartile of GlycA, compared with the lowest, experienced increased risk of developing any HF (hazard ratio, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.01-2.18]) in fully adjusted models. However, this increased risk was only seen for HFpEF (2.18 [1.15-4.13]) and not heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [1.06 (0.63-1.79)]. There was no significant interaction by sex, age, or race/ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

GlycA was associated with an increased risk of any HF, and in particular, HFpEF. Future studies should examine mechanisms that might explain differential association of GlycA with HF subtypes, and whether therapeutic lowering of GlycA can prevent HFpEF development. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00005487.

Serum level of HDL particles are independently associated with long-term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease: The GENES study

HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) is not an accurate surrogate marker to measure the cardioprotective functions of HDL in coronary artery diseases (CAD) patients. Hence, measurement of other HDL-related parameters may have prognostic superiority over HDL-C. In this work, we examined the predictive value of HDL particles profile for long-term mortality in CAD patients and to compare its informative value to that of HDL-C and apoA-I. HDL particles profiles were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in 214 male participants with stable CAD (45-74 years). Median follow up was 12.5 years with a 36.4% mortality rate. Cardiovascular mortality accounted for 64.5%. Mean concentrations of total HDL particles (HDL-P), small-sized HDL (SHDL-P) and apoA-I were lower in deceased than in surviving patients whereas no difference was observed according to HDL-C and large HDL particles. All NMR-HDL measures were correlated between themselves and with other HDL markers (HDL-C, apoA-I and LpA-I). In a multivariate model adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and bioclinical variables, HDL-P and SHDL-P displayed the strongest inverse association with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Weaker associations were recorded for apoA-I. Based on our results, we conclude that HDL particle profile measured by NMR spectroscopy should be considered to better stratify risk in population at high risk or in the setting of pharmacotherapy.

National trends in total cholesterol obscure heterogeneous changes in HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio: a pooled analysis of 458 population-based studies in Asian and Western countries

BACKGROUND

Although high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and non-HDL cholesterol have opposite associations with coronary heart disease, multi-country reports of lipid trends only use total cholesterol (TC). Our aim was to compare trends in total, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in Asian and Western countries.

METHODS

We pooled 458 population-based studies with 82.1 million participants in 23 Asian and Western countries. We estimated changes in mean total, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and mean total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio by country, sex and age group.

RESULTS

Since ∼1980, mean TC increased in Asian countries. In Japan and South Korea, the TC rise was due to rising HDL cholesterol, which increased by up to 0.17 mmol/L per decade in Japanese women; in China, it was due to rising non-HDL cholesterol. TC declined in Western countries, except in Polish men. The decline was largest in Finland and Norway, at ∼0.4 mmol/L per decade. The decline in TC in most Western countries was the net effect of an increase in HDL cholesterol and a decline in non-HDL cholesterol, with the HDL cholesterol increase largest in New Zealand and Switzerland. Mean total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio declined in Japan, South Korea and most Western countries, by as much as ∼0.7 per decade in Swiss men (equivalent to ∼26% decline in coronary heart disease risk per decade). The ratio increased in China.

CONCLUSIONS

HDL cholesterol has risen and the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio has declined in many Western countries, Japan and South Korea, with only a weak correlation with changes in TC or non-HDL cholesterol.

Collagen Biomarkers and Incidence of New Onset of Atrial Fibrillation in Subjects With No Overt Cardiovascular Disease at Baseline: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrosis is a hallmark of structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF). Plasma procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) reflects collagen synthesis and degradation while collagen type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) reflects collagen degradation. We aimed to study baseline plasma PIIINP and ICTP and their associations with incident AF in participants initially free of overt cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

In a stratified sample of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, initially aged 45-84 years, 3071 participants had both PIIINP and ICTP measured at baseline. Incident AF in 10-year follow-up was based on a hospital International Classification of Diseases code for AF or atrial flutter, in- or outpatient Medicare claims through 2011 (primarily in those aged 65-84 years), or ECG 10 years after baseline (n=357). The associations of PIIINP and ICTP with incident AF were estimated using Poisson regression with follow-up time offset.

RESULTS

Baseline PIIINP (5.50±1.55 µg/L) and ICTP (mean±SD, 3.41±1.37 µg/L) were positively related (both P<0.0001) to incident AF in a model adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and sex, with an apparent threshold (relative incidence density 2.81 [1.94-4.08] for PIIINP ≥8.5 µg/L [3.5% of the sample] and 3.46 [2.36-5.07] for ICTP ≥7 µg/L [1.7% of the sample]). Findings were attenuated but remained statistically significant after further adjustment for systolic blood pressure, height, body mass index, smoking, and renal function. Additional adjustment for other risk factors and biomarkers of inflammation did not alter conclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma collagen biomarkers, particularly at elevated levels, were associated with excess risk for AF.

Collagen biomarkers predict new onset of hypertension in normotensive participants: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

Vascular remodeling associated with increased extracellular matrix (ECM) may precede hypertension. Procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) and collagen type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) reflect collagen turnover and are important in ECM remodeling. PIIINP and ICTP are increased in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We hypothesized that PIIINP and ICTP among normotensives predict incident hypertension.

METHODS

We included 1252 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants with mean age 58.1 ± 12.4 years, 48% men, free of overt CVD, having SBP and DBP less than 130/85 mmHg and not using any antihypertensive medication, and having plasma PIIINP and ICTP measurements, all assessed at baseline. We studied the association of baseline PIIINP and ICTP with the relative incidence density (RID) of incident hypertension, defined as SBP/DBP at least 140/90 mmHg, or antihypertensive therapy use during follow-up (four examinations over median 9.4 years).

RESULTS

Baseline mean SBP/DBP was 110.9 ± 14.0/67.9 ± 10.4 mmHg. Mean concentration of PIIINP was 5.39 ± 1.95 μg/l and ICTP was 3.18 ± 1.39 μg/l. During follow-up visits, 35.9% of the participants developed hypertension. After adjustment for age, race, and sex there was a significant RID for new onset of hypertension of 1.16 (1.06, 1.28), P = 0.0017 for PIIINP and 1.20 (1.08,1.33) for ICTP, P = 0.0008. After additional adjustment for renal function, CVD risk factors and inflammatory variables, RID for new onset hypertension was 1.28 (1.15,1.42), P < 0.001 for PIIINP and 1.29 (1.15,1.44) for ICTP, P < 0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Biomarkers of ECM remodeling predicted the development of hypertension in normotensive participants free of overt CVD.

Inflammatory joint diseases and atherosclerosis: time to look beyond the 'lipid paradox'

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Uncertainty persists about the contribution of lipids to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint disease (IJD) patients. In reviewing recent research, we consider potential insights gained by quantifying lipoprotein particles directly, rather than by their lipid content.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although inflammation often decreases LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and anti-inflammatory medications often increase LDL-C, both inflammation and anti-inflammatory medications can increase atherogenic Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-containing lipoprotein particles, attenuated by statins. CVD risk factors, that is, smoking, obesity, ApoB, may increase years prior to IJD diagnosis. Increased risks of nonatherosclerotic myocardial and pulmonary disease, heart failure and mortality may be directly related to disease activity, inflammation, and possibly to HDL particles and function.

SUMMARY

For IJD patients, higher cumulative lifetime exposure to CVD risk factors accelerates atherosclerosis and subsequent CVD risk that is underestimated by current risk factor levels. CVD risk reduction in IJD requires aggressive and earlier reduction in CVD risk factors (ApoB lipoproteins, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, lack of physical activity), in addition to control of disease activity and inflammation. Lipid-lowering medications can attenuate anti-inflammatory medication-induced increases in ApoB and LDL-C, but can also reduce CVD risk due to cumulative lifetime exposure.

Small HDL subclass is associated with coronary plaque stability: An optical coherence tomography study in patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

The role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses in atherosclerotic diseases remains an open question. Previous clinical trials have attempted to explore the predictive effect of HDL subspecies on cardiovascular risk. However, no studies have assessed the connections between these subclasses and characteristics of plaque microstructure.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship of HDL subclasses and coronary plaque stability assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

Morphological characteristics of 160 nontarget lesions from 85 patients with coronary artery disease were assessed by OCT. HDL subclass profiles were analyzed using nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS

The plasma levels of small HDL subclass (percentage or concentration) were found to be positively associated with fibrous cap thickness (r = 0.232, P = .007; r = 0.243, P = .005) and negatively with maximum lipid arc (r = -0.240, P = .005; r = -0.252, P = .003) and lipid core length (r = -0.350, P < .001; r = -0.367, P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the small HDL subclass (percentage or concentration) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.457, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.214-0.974, P = .043; OR: 0.438, 95% CI: 0.204-0.938, P = .034) to be an independent factor in predicting OCT-detected thin-cap fibroatheroma of nontarget lesions.

CONCLUSION

High levels of small HDL are associated with coronary nontarget plaque stability. Our findings suggest that the small HDL subtype might represent the atheroprotective activity of HDL.

Predictive Value of Collagen Biomarkers for Heart Failure With and Without Preserved Ejection Fraction: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)

BACKGROUND

Collagen biomarkers may correlate with incident heart failure (HF) and its subtypes. We hypothesized that circulating procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) and collagen type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) predict incident HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used a stratified sampling design in a multiethnic sample of 3187 subjects, initially aged 45 to 84 years and free of cardiovascular disease. We assayed baseline serum PIIINP and ICTP concentrations using radioimmunoassay. Incident HF was adjudicated, distinguishing reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; EF <45%) from preserved EF (HFpEF; EF ≥45%). The incidence density for HFpEF and HFrEF was computed using Poisson regression per SD for each of PIIINP and ICTP, adjusting in model 1 for age, race, sex, and renal function or in model 2 for these variables plus blood pressure and medication. Mean (SD) ICTP was 3.38±1.77 μg/L, and mean (SD) PIIINP was 5.48±2.04 μg/L. Among the HF cases, 96 were HFrEF and 107 were HFpEF. Neither ICTP nor PIIINP significantly predicted incident HFrEF. The incidence density for HFpEF per 100 people observed for 13 years was 1.65 for low PIIINP (lower 6 octiles) versus 3.00 for higher PIIINP (P=0.002) in model 1 and correspondingly 1.45 versus 2.59 (P=0.003) in model 2. For low ICTP (lower 7 octiles) versus higher ICTP (octile 8), incidence densities were 1.79 versus 3.64 (P=0.002) in model 1 and 1.58 versus 3.12 (P=0.002) in model 2.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of circulating ICTP and PIIINP as collagen biomarkers appear to be associated with incident HFpEF, but not HFrEF.

Statin dose reduction with complementary diet therapy: A pilot study of personalized medicine

OBJECTIVE

Statin intolerance, whether real or perceived, is a growing issue in clinical practice. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of reduced-dose statin therapy complemented with nutraceuticals.

METHODS

First phase: Initially, 53 type 2 diabetic statin-treated patients received a supplementation with fish oil (1.7 g EPA + DHA/day), chocolate containing plant sterols (2.2 g/day), and green tea (two sachets/day) for 6 weeks. Second phase: "Good responders" to supplementation were identified after multivariate analysis (n = 10), and recruited for a pilot protocol of statin dose reduction. "Good responders" were then provided with supplementation for 12 weeks: standard statin therapy was kept during the first 6 weeks and reduced by 50% from weeks 6-12.

RESULTS

First phase: After 6 weeks of supplementation, plasma LDL-C (-13.7% ± 3.7, P = .002) and C-reactive protein (-35.5% ± 5.9, P = .03) were reduced. Analysis of lathosterol and campesterol in plasma suggested that intensity of LDL-C reduction was influenced by cholesterol absorption rate rather than its synthesis. Second phase: no difference was observed for plasma lipids, inflammation, cholesterol efflux capacity, or HDL particles after statin dose reduction when compared to standard therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Although limited by the small sample size, our study demonstrates the potential for a new therapeutic approach combining lower statin dose and specific dietary compounds. Further studies should elucidate "good responders" profile as a tool for personalized medicine. This may be particularly helpful in the many patients with or at risk for CVD who cannot tolerate high dose statin therapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02732223.

Relations of GlycA and lipoprotein particle subspecies with cardiovascular events and mortality: A post hoc analysis of the AIM-HIGH trial

BACKGROUND

The Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides and Impact on Global Health Outcomes trial showed no incremental benefit of extended-release niacin (ERN) therapy added to simvastatin in subjects with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of ERN treatment on lipoprotein particles and GlycA, a new marker of systemic inflammation, and their relations with incident CVD events including mortality.

METHODS

GlycA and very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle subclasses were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using available stored baseline (n = 2754) and 1-year in-trial (n = 2581) samples. Associations with CVD events and all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, treatment assignment, and lipoproteins.

RESULTS

Compared to placebo, ERN treatment lowered very low-density lipoprotein and LDL and increased HDL particle concentrations, increased LDL and HDL particle sizes (all P < .0001), but did not affect GlycA. Baseline and in-trial GlycA levels were associated with increased risk of CVD events: hazard ratio (HR) per SD increment, 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.28) and 1.13 (1.02-1.26), respectively. However, none of the lipoprotein particle classes or subclasses was associated with incident CVD. By contrast, all-cause mortality was significantly associated with both GlycA (baseline HR: 1.46 [1.22-1.75]; in-trial HR: 1.41 [1.24-1.60]) and low levels of small HDL particles (baseline HR: 0.69 [0.56-0.86]; in-trial HR: 0.69 [0.56-0.86]).

CONCLUSIONS

This Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides and Impact on Global Health Outcomes trial post hoc substudy indicates that inflammation, as indexed by GlycA, is unaffected by ERN treatment but is significantly associated with the residual risk of CVD and death in patients treated to low levels of LDL cholesterol.

Biomarkers of Key Biological Pathways in CVD

This review provides background on the laboratory design for MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) as well as the approach used in MESA to select biomarkers for measurement. The research related to the multitude of circulating and urinary biomarkers of inflammation and other novel and emerging biological pathways in MESA is summarized by domain, or pathway, represented by the biomarker. The contributions of MESA biomarkers to our knowledge of these key pathways in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and pulmonary disease are highlighted, as are the contributions of MESA to recommendations for clinical use of several of these biomarkers. In addition, contributions of MESA to multicohort genomics consortia and current collaborations in transomics and metabolomics are noted.

High-density lipoprotein 3 cholesterol is a predictive factor for arterial stiffness: a community-based 4.8-year prospective study

Background

Although drug trials with niacin and cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors that substantially increase high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) failed to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, HDL protection of the cardiovascular system cannot be easily denied. Hence, it may be HDL subfractions that are responsible for the long-held and consistent cardioprotective association of HDL. Arterial stiffness has been increasingly recognized as a strong predictor of subclinical vascular disease, atherosclerotic disease, and cardiovascular mortality. As the association of HDL subfractions and arterial stiffness is not well characterized, we aimed to determine the relations between these two entities in a community-based longitudinal Chinese population sample.

Methods

We evaluated the associations of plasma HDL2-C and HDL3-C subfractions with arterial stiffness measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and then multivariate logistic regression in 1447 subjects (mean age 61.3 years) from a community-based population in Beijing, China.

Results

After a median follow-up of 4.8 years, Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that HDL3-C was negatively associated with follow-up cf-PWV (r = −0.114; P = 0.001), and there was no correlation between HDL2-C and follow-up cf-PWV (r = −0.045; P = 0.181). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, each standard deviation (SD) increase in HDL3-C was associated with a 1.490-increased likelihood of the presence of follow-up cf-PWV [odds ratio (per SD increase in HDL3-C) 1.490; 95% confidence interval 1.021–1.470; P = 0.039), whereas there was no relation between HDL2-C and follow-up cf-PWV.

Conclusions

HDL3-C subfractions were significantly and inversely associated with arterial stiffness, suggesting that HDL subfractions are likely more important than HDL-C in preventing cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation-Related Morbidity and Mortality Among HIV-Positive Adults: How Extensive Is It?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate of grade 4, potentially life-threatening events not attributable to AIDS, cardiovascular disease (CVD), or non-AIDS cancer among participants on antiretroviral therapy and to describe associations of these events with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

METHODS

HIV-infected participants on antiretroviral therapy (N = 3568) with an HIV-RNA level ≤ 500 copies/mL were followed for grade 4, AIDS, CVD, non-AIDS cancer, and all-cause mortality events. Grade 4 events were further classified masked to biomarker levels as reflecting chronic inflammation-related disease (ChrIRD) or not (non-ChrIRD). Associations of baseline IL-6 and D-dimer with events were studied using Cox models.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 4.3 years, 339 participants developed a grade 4 event (22.9 per 1000 person-years); 165 participants developed a ChrIRD grade 4 event (10.7 per 1000 person-years). Grade 4 events were more common than AIDS (54 participants), CVD (132), and non-AIDS cancer (80) events, any of which developed in 252 participants (17.1 per 1000 person-years). Grade 4 and AIDS events were associated with similar risks of death. Higher IL-6 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.19 per doubling of biomarker; P = 0.003] and D-dimer (HR = 1.23; P < 0.001) levels were associated with an increased risk of grade 4 events. IL-6 associations were stronger for ChrIRD (HR = 1.38; P < 0.001) than non-ChrIRD grade 4 events (HR = 1.11; P = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Morbidity and mortality associated with activation of inflammatory and coagulation pathways include conditions other than AIDS, CVD, and non-AIDS cancer events. Effective inflammation-dampening interventions could greatly affect the health of people with HIV.

Impact of Lipid Measurements in Youth in Addition to Conventional Clinic-Based Risk Factors on Predicting Preclinical Atherosclerosis in Adulthood: International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort Consortium

BACKGROUND

Data suggest that the prediction of adult cardiovascular disease using a model comprised entirely of adult nonlaboratory-based risk factors is equivalent to an approach that additionally incorporates adult lipid measures. We assessed and compared the utility of a risk model based solely on nonlaboratory risk factors in adolescence versus a lipid model based on nonlaboratory risk factors plus lipids for predicting high-risk carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in adulthood.

METHODS

The study comprised 2893 participants 12 to 18 years of age from 4 longitudinal cohort studies from the United States (Bogalusa Heart Study and the Insulin Study), Australia (Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study), and Finland (The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study) and followed into adulthood when cIMT was measured (mean follow-up, 23.4 years). Overweight status was defined according to the Cole classification. Hypertension was defined according to the Fourth Report on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program. High-risk plasma lipid levels were defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Cholesterol Levels in Children. High cIMT was defined as a study-specific value ≥90th percentile. Age and sex were included in each model.

RESULTS

In univariate models, all risk factors except for borderline high and high triglycerides in adolescence were associated with high cIMT in adulthood. In multivariable models (relative risk [95% confidence interval]), male sex (2.7 [2.0-2.6]), prehypertension (1.4 [1.0-1.9]), hypertension (1.9 [1.3-2.9]), overweight (2.0 [1.4-2.9]), obesity (3.7 [2.0-7.0]), borderline high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.6 [1.2-2.2]), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.6 [1.1-2.1]), and borderline low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.4 [1.0-1.8]) remained significant predictors of high cIMT (P<0.05). The addition of lipids into the nonlaboratory risk model slightly but significantly improved discrimination in predicting high cIMT compared with nonlaboratory-based risk factors only (C statistics for laboratory-based model 0.717 [95% confidence interval, 0.685-0.748] and for nonlaboratory 0.698 [95% confidence interval, 0.667-0.731]; P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonlaboratory-based risk factors and lipids measured in adolescence independently predicted preclinical atherosclerosis in young adulthood. The addition of lipid measurements to traditional clinic-based risk factor assessment provided a statistically significant but clinically modest improvement on adolescent prediction of high cIMT in adulthood.

High-Density Lipoprotein Subclasses, Coronary Artery Disease, and Cardiovascular Mortality

BACKGROUND

The inverse relationship between HDL cholesterol and cardiovascular mortality is weakened in coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to investigate the associations of HDL particle concentrations with cardiovascular mortality and the impact of CAD on these associations. We also sought to comparatively evaluate HDL cholesterol and HDL particle concentrations in predicting cardiovascular mortality.

METHODS

Total and subclass HDL particle concentrations were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 2290 participants of the LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular Health study referred for coronary angiography. The participants were prospectively followed over a median (interquartile range) duration of 10.0 (6.1-10.6) years.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age of the participants (1575 males, 715 females) was 62.9 (10.4) years; body mass index, 27.6 (4.1) kg/m²; HDL cholesterol, 39 (11) mg/dL [1 (0.29) mmol/L]; and total HDL particle concentration, 24.1 (5.8) μmol/L. Of the participants, 434 died from cardiovascular diseases. In multivariate analyses, tertiles of total HDL particle concentrations were inversely related to cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio for third vs first tertile = 0.55, P < 0.001). This association was primarily mediated by small HDL particles (P < 0.001). Adding total or small HDL particle concentrations rather than HDL cholesterol to multivariate prediction models improved performance metrics for cardiovascular mortality. The presence of CAD had no impact on the associations between HDL particle concentrations and cardiovascular mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

High HDL particle concentration is consistently and independently of CAD associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality. Whether the inverse relationship between HDL particle concentration and cardiovascular mortality may be translated into novel therapies is under investigation.

HDL and the menopause

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize recent provocative findings on conventional and novel metrics of HDL including HDL-C, HDL subclasses and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity as related to menopause.

RECENT FINDINGS

Pattern of menopause-related changes in HDL-C are not consistent, suggesting a complex relationship between HDL and menopause. Growing body of literature indicates that higher levels of HDL-C may not be consistently cardio-protective in midlife women, suggesting a potential change in other metrics of HDL that could not be captured by the static metric HDL-C. It is also possible that higher HDL-C at certain conditions could be a marker of HDL metabolism dysfunctionality. Significant alterations in other metrics of HDL have been reported after menopause and found to be related to estradiol.

SUMMARY

The impact of changes in novel metrics of HDL over the menopausal transition on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk later in life is not clear in women. Much of our understanding of how the menopausal transition may impact HDL metrics comes from cross-sectional studies. Future longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate other metrics of HDL shown to better reflect the cardio-protective capacities of HDL, so that the complex association of menopause, HDL and CVD risk could be characterized.

Moringa Leaves Prevent Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation in Guinea Pigs by Reducing the Expression of Genes Involved in Lipid Metabolism

To investigate the mechanisms by which Moringa oleifera leaves (ML) modulate hepatic lipids, guinea pigs were allocated to either control (0% ML), 10% Low Moringa (LM) or 15% High Moringa (HM) diets with 0.25% dietary cholesterol to induce hepatic steatosis. After 6 weeks, guinea pigs were sacrificed and liver and plasma were collected to determine plasma lipids, hepatic lipids, cytokines and the expression of genes involved in hepatic cholesterol (CH) and triglyceride (TG) metabolism. There were no differences in plasma lipids among groups. A dose-response effect of ML was observed in hepatic lipids (CH and TG) with the lowest concentrations in the HM group (p < 0.001), consistent with histological evaluation of lipid droplets. Hepatic gene expression of diglyceride acyltransferase-2 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ, as well as protein concentrations interleukin (IL)-1β and interferon-γ, were lowest in the HM group (p < 0.005). Hepatic gene expression of cluster of differentiation-68 and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c were 60% lower in both the LM and HM groups compared to controls (p < 0.01). This study demonstrates that ML may prevent hepatic steatosis by affecting gene expression related to hepatic lipids synthesis resulting in lower concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides and reduced inflammation in the liver.

Collagen Turnover Markers in Relation to Future Cardiovascular and Noncardiovascular Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Sustained remodeling of extracellular matrix can compromise organs and tissues. Procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) and collagen type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) reflect collagen synthesis and degradation. We studied their predictive value for future death and disease.

METHODS

A total of 3068 men and women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who were free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in generally good health had a baseline blood sample taken for ICTP and PIIINP. Median follow-up was 13.0 years. Among 4 primary outcomes, CVD events (n = 697) were adjudicated, death (n = 571) was by death certificate, and chronic inflammatory-related severe hospitalization and death (ChrIRD, n = 726) and total cancer (n = 327) were classified using International Classification of Diseases codes. We used Poisson regression to study baseline ICTP and PIIINP relative to these outcomes.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) PIIINP was 5.47 (1.95) μg/L and ICTP was 3.37 (1.70) μg/L. PIIINP and ICTP were highly correlated with each other and with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Adjustment for age and eGFR attenuated relative risks, remaining 20%-30% per SD of both PIIINP and ICTP in prediction for total death and ChrIRD, and of PIIINP for cancer, with little additional attenuation by adjusting for risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers. CVD outcome was generally unrelated to PIIINP but became marginally inversely related to ICTP in the most adjusted model.

CONCLUSIONS

The collagen biomarkers PIIINP and ICTP, in part through pathophysiologically parallel associations with renal function, predicted ChrIRD and total death. Moreover, PIIINP predicted future cancer. These collagen markers may help differentiate healthy from unhealthy aging.

Cholesterol, lipoproteins and subclinical interstitial lung disease: the MESA study

We investigated associations of plasma lipoproteins with subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) by measuring high attenuation areas (HAA: lung voxels between -600 and -250 Hounsfield units) in 6700 adults and serum MMP-7 and SP-A in 1216 adults age 45-84 without clinical cardiovascular disease in Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. In cross-sectional analyses, each SD decrement in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was associated with a 2.12% HAA increment (95% CI 1.44% to 2.79%), a 3.53% MMP-7 increment (95% CI 0.93% to 6.07%) and a 6.37% SP-A increment (95% CI 1.35% to 11.13%), independent of demographics, smoking and inflammatory biomarkers. These findings support a novel hypothesis that HDL-C might influence subclinical lung injury and extracellular matrix remodelling.

Serum Acylcarnitines and Risk of Cardiovascular Death and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris

Background

Excess levels of serum acylcarnitines, which are intermediate products in metabolism, have been observed in metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is not known whether acylcarnitines may prospectively predict risk of cardiovascular death or acute myocardial infarction in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Methods and Results

This study included 4164 patients (median age, 62 years; 72% men). Baseline serum acetyl‐, octanoyl‐, palmitoyl‐, propionyl‐, and (iso)valerylcarnitine were measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for quartile 4 versus quartile 1 are reported. The multivariable model included age, sex, body mass index, fasting status, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, creatinine, left ventricular ejection fraction, extent of coronary artery disease, study center, and intervention with folic acid or vitamin B6. During median 10.2 years of follow‐up, 10.0% of the patients died of cardiovascular disease and 12.8% suffered a fatal or nonfatal acute myocardial infarction. Higher levels of the even‐chained acetyl‐, octanoyl‐, and palmitoyl‐carnitines were significantly associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular death, also after multivariable adjustments (HR [95% CI]: 1.52 [1.12, 2.06]; P=0.007; 1.73 [1.23, 2.44]; P=0.002; and 1.61 [1.18, 2.21]; P=0.003, respectively), whereas their associations with acute myocardial infarction were less consistent.

Conclusions

Among patients with suspected stable angina pectoris, elevated serum even‐chained acylcarnitines were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death and, to a lesser degree with acute myocardial infarction, independent of traditional risk factors.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00354081.

A Novel Protein Glycan-Derived Inflammation Biomarker Independently Predicts Cardiovascular Disease and Modifies the Association of HDL Subclasses with Mortality

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may adversely impact HDL function. In this study we sought to evaluate the independent and incremental predictive performance of GlycA-a novel serum inflammatory biomarker that is an aggregate measure of enzymatically glycosylated acute phase proteins-and HDL subclasses on adverse events in a retrospective observational study of a secondary prevention population and to understand a priori defined potential interactions between GlycA and HDL subclasses.

METHODS

GlycA and HDL subclasses were measured using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 7617 individuals in the CATHGEN (CATHeterization GENetics) cardiac catheterization biorepository.

RESULTS

GlycA was associated with presence [odds ratio (OR) 1.07 (1.02-1.13), P = 0.01] and extent [OR 1.08 (1.03, 1.12) P < 0.0005] of coronary artery disease and with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.34 (1.29-1.39), P < 0.0001], cardiovascular mortality [1.37 (1.30-1.45), P < 0.0001] and noncardiovascular mortality [1.46 (1.39-1.54) P < 0.0001] in models adjusted for 10 cardiovascular risk factors. GlycA and smaller HDL subclasses had independent but opposite effects on mortality risk prediction, with smaller HDL subclasses being protective [HR 0.69 (0.66-0.72), P < 0.0001]. There was an interaction between GlycA and smaller HDL subclasses-increasing GlycA concentrations attenuated the inverse association of smaller HDL subclasses with mortality. Adding GlycA and smaller HDL subclasses into the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) and Framingham Heart Study Risk Scores improved mortality risk prediction, discrimination and reclassification.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the interaction of systemic inflammation and HDL with clinical outcomes and may increase precision for clinical risk assessment in secondary prevention populations.

Salusins and adropin: New peptides potentially involved in lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis

Dyslipidemia is one of the most potent risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. The high atherosclerotic risk in dyslipidemic patients is associated with endothelial dysfunction. During the last two decades, novel bioactive peptides have emerged as potential biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and dyslipidemia-salusins and adropin. Salusin-alpha is likely to prevent atherosclerosis, while salusin-beta may act as a potential proatherogenic factor. Adropin was recently identified as important for energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Adropin is closely related to the inhibition of atherosclerosis by up-regulation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression through the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. These peptides represent a novel target to limit diseases characterized by endothelial dysfunction and may form the basis for the development of new therapeutic agents for treating metabolic disorders associated with atherosclerosis.

Concentration of Smaller High-Density Lipoprotein Particle (HDL-P) Is Inversely Correlated With Carotid Intima Media Thickening After Confounder Adjustment: The Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have failed to establish a causal relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (HDL-C) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), shifting focus to other HDL measures. We previously reported that smaller/denser HDL levels are protective against cerebrovascular disease. This study sought to determine which of small+medium HDL particle concentration (HDL-P) or large HDL-P was more strongly associated with carotid intima-media thickening (cIMT) in an ethnically diverse cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In cross-sectional analyses of participants from the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), we evaluated the associations of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-measured small+medium versus large HDL-P with cIMT measured in the common and internal carotid arteries, through linear regression. After adjustment for CVD confounders, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C, and small+medium HDL-P remained significantly and inversely associated with common (coefficient=-1.46 μm; P=0.00037; n=6512) and internal cIMT (coefficient=-3.82 μm; P=0.0051; n=6418) after Bonferroni correction for 4 independent tests (threshold for significance=0.0125; α=0.05/4). Large HDL-P was significantly and inversely associated with both cIMT outcomes before HDL-C adjustment; however, after adjustment for HDL-C, the association of large HDL-P with both common (coefficient=1.55 μm; P=0.30; n=6512) and internal cIMT (coefficient=4.84 μm; P=0.33; n=6418) was attenuated. In a separate sample of 126 men, small/medium HDL-P was more strongly correlated with paraoxonase 1 activity (rp=0.32; P=0.00023) as compared to both total HDL-P (rp=0.27; P=0.0024) and large HDL-P (rp=0.02; P=0.41) measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Small+medium HDL-P is significantly and inversely correlated with cIMT measurements. Correlation of small+medium HDL-P with cardioprotective paraoxonase 1 activity may reflect a functional aspect of HDL responsible for this finding.

Comparison of the Predictive Value of GlycA and Other Biomarkers of Inflammation for Total Death, Incident Cardiovascular Events, Noncardiovascular and Noncancer Inflammatory-Related Events, and Total Cancer Events

BACKGROUND

GlycA is a biomarker that reflects integrated concentrations and glycosylation states of several acute-phase proteins. We studied the association of GlycA and inflammatory biomarkers with future death and disease.

METHODS

A total of 6523 men and women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who were free of overt cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in generally good health had a baseline blood sample taken. We assayed high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and d-dimer. A spectral deconvolution algorithm was used to quantify GlycA signal amplitudes from automated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) LipoProfile® test spectra. Median follow-up was 12.1 years. Among 4 primary outcomes, CVD events were adjudicated, death was by death certificate, and chronic inflammatory-related severe hospitalization and death (ChrIRD) and total cancer were classified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. We used Poisson regression to study baseline GlycA, hsCRP, IL-6, and d-dimer in relation to total death, CVD, ChrIRD, and total cancer.

RESULTS

Relative risk per SD of GlycA, IL-6, and d-dimer for total death (n = 915); for total CVD (n = 922); and for ChrIRD (n = 1324) ranged from 1.05 to 1.20, independently of covariates. In contrast, prediction from hsCRP was statistically explained by adjustment for other inflammatory variables. Only GlycA was predictive for total cancer (n = 663). Women had 7% higher values of all inflammatory biomarkers than men and had a significantly lower GlycA prediction coefficient than men in predicting total cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The composite biomarker GlycA derived from NMR is associated with risk for total death, CVD, ChrIRD, and total cancer after adjustment for hsCRP, IL-6, and d-dimer. IL-6 and d-dimer contribute information independently of GlycA.

Prospective Associations of Systemic and Urinary Choline Metabolites with Incident Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Several compounds in the choline oxidation pathway are associated with insulin resistance and prevalent diabetes; however, prospective data are scarce.

We explored the relationships between systemic and urinary choline-related metabolites and incident type 2 diabetes in an observational prospective study among Norwegian patients.

METHODS

We explored risk associations by logistic regression among 3621 nondiabetic individuals with suspected stable angina pectoris, of whom 3242 provided urine samples. Reclassification of patients was investigated according to continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI &gt;0).

RESULTS

After median (25th to 75th percentile) follow-up of 7.5 (6.4–8.7) years, 233 patients (6.4%) were registered with incident type 2 diabetes. In models adjusted for age, sex, and fasting status, plasma betaine was inversely related to new-onset disease [odds ratio (OR) per 1 SD, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.62–0.83; P &lt; 0.00001], whereas positive associations were observed for urine betaine (1.25; 1.09–1.43; P = 0.001), dimethylglycine (1.22; 1.06–1.40; P = 0.007), and sarcosine (1.30; 1.13–1.49; P &lt; 0.001). The associations were maintained in a multivariable model adjusting for body mass index, hemoglobin A1c, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, estimated glomerular filtration rate, C-reactive protein, HDL cholesterol, and medications. Plasma betaine and urine sarcosine, the indices most strongly related to incident type 2 diabetes, improved reclassification [NRI &gt;0 (95% CI) 0.33 (0.19–0.47) and 0.16 (0.01–0.31), respectively] and showed good within-person reproducibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic and urinary concentrations of several choline metabolites were associated with risk of incident type 2 diabetes, and relevant biomarkers may improve risk prediction.

Interleukin 6 Is a Stronger Predictor of Clinical Events Than High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein or D-Dimer During HIV Infection

BACKGROUND

Interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and D-dimer levels are linked to adverse outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the strength of their associations with different clinical end points warrants investigation.

METHODS

Participants receiving standard of care in 2 HIV trials with measured biomarker levels were followed to ascertain all-cause death, non-AIDS-related death, AIDS, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and non-AIDS-defining malignancies. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each end point for quartiles and log2-transformed IL-6, hsCRP, and D-dimer levels were calculated using Cox models. Marginal models modelling multiple events tested for equal effects of biomarker levels on different end points.

RESULTS

Among 4304 participants, there were 157 all-cause deaths, 117 non-AIDS-related deaths, 101 AIDS cases, 121 CVD cases, and 99 non-AIDS-defining malignancies. IL-6 was more strongly associated with most end points, compared with hsCRP. IL-6 appeared to be a stronger predictor than D-dimer for CVD and non-AIDS-defining malignancies, but 95% CIs overlapped. Independent associations of IL-6 were stronger for non-AIDS-related death (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.43-2.04) and all-cause death (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.33-1.84) and similar for CVD (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.12-1.62) and non-AIDS-defining malignancies (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06-1.61). There was heterogeneity of IL-6 (P < .001) but not hsCRP (P = .15) or D-dimer (P = .20) as a predictor for different end points.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-6 is a stronger predictor of fatal events than of CVD and non-AIDS-defining malignancies. Adjuvant antiinflammatory and antithrombotic therapies should be tested in HIV-infected individuals.