Triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol as risk factors for ischemic heart disease. Results from the Québec cardiovascular study

Atherosclerosis. 1996 Jan 26;119(2):235-45. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(95)05653-x.

Abstract

The relative importance of reduced plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and elevated plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations as risk factors for ischemic heart disease (IHD) was examined in a sample of 2177 men from the Québec City suburbs. The sample included 202 men with known IHD. The relationship between HDL-C and TG levels, although significant (r = -0.49, P < 0.0001), was not linear, as most of the variation in HDL-C levels was observed within TG levels below 2.5 mmol/l. Reduced HDL-C (< 0.9 mmol/l) was a prevalent condition in men with IHD (50%) compared to those without IHD (30%). On the other hand 26% and 20% of men with and without IHD, respectively, had elevated TG levels (TG > 2.3 mmol/l). A 2-fold increase in prevalence odds ratio (OR) was observed in men with TG levels > 2.3 mmol/l (95% confidence intervals (CI) [1.2;3.3]). No residual association between elevated TG levels and IHD was found, however, after adjustment for HDL-C concentrations (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.7;2.1). On the other hand, HDL-C remained a significant predictor of IHD after adjustment for other risk factors (OR 0.3, 95%, CI 0.2;0.6). Men with reduced HDL-C levels were also characterized by a cluster of risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, which may contribute to increase the risk of IHD. Finally, the independent interpretation of cholesterol, TG or LDL-C levels may lead to an inadequate prediction of risk, as a large number of IHD patients showed a cluster of risk factors which included low HDL-C concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Susceptibility / blood
  • Disease Susceptibility / epidemiology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / complications
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / epidemiology
  • Infant
  • Lipids / blood
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Ischemia / blood
  • Myocardial Ischemia / epidemiology*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / etiology
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Phenotype
  • Prevalence
  • Quebec / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Triglycerides / blood*

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Lipids
  • Triglycerides