Fasting triglycerides as a predictor of long‐term mortality in middle‐aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia

Abstract

Objective: To study cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking and blood pressure as potential predictors of long‐term mortality in middle‐aged males with combined hyperlipidaemia. Methods: The study included 104 healthy men aged 40–49 years with total serum cholesterol >6.45 mmol/L and fasting triglycerides >2.55 mmol/L within the randomized diet and smoking cessation trial of the Oslo study (n=1232). Results: Thirty‐three subjects died during the 24‐year observation period. Univariate analysis showed that only age, fasting triglycerides and smoking were significantly related to mortality. An analysis for trend through quartiles of triglycerides showed a statistically significant association with mortality (p=0.049). Subjects in the lowest triglyceride quartile (2.55–2.75 mmol/L) had a 70% reduction in mortality compared with the remaining subjects (>2.75 mmol/L) (RR=0.30, 95% CI 0.10–0.90, p=0.014). Non‐smokers had a 60% reduced mortality compared with smokers (RR=0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.94, p=0.019). When studied in a Cox regression analysis, with age, triglycerides and smoking as independent variables, triglycerides were significantly related to mortality, 1st quartile vs. 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles: risk rate=0.24, (95% CI 0.07–0.77, p=0.02). For non‐smokers vs. smokers, the Cox analysis showed a risk rate=0.39, (95% CI 0.15–1.02, p=0.054). Conclusion: This study indicates that high levels of fasting triglycerides (>2.75 mmol) are independently associated with increased late mortality in healthy middle‐aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia.

• Cardiovascular disease
• multivariate analysis
• risk factors
• smoking