Association between non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal middle-aged women

Abstract

Background: A novel lipid relation, the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C/HDL-C) ratio gathers information on all atherogenic and antiatherogenic particles on a single date. The relationship between this lipid marker and the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) in postmenopausal women is unknown.

Methods: Postmenopausal women in primary prevention up to 70 years of age were recruited. Association between the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and presence of CAP, assessed by ultrasonography, was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.

Results: A total of 440 females with a mean age of 58.1 ± 5.3 years were recruited. The mean non-HDL-C/HDL ratio was 3.1 ± 1.2 and 28.2% of woman had CAP. A positive relationship was seen between quintiles of the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and prevalence of CAP (p < 0.001). Regardless of other risk factors, women with higher non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios had a greater chance of having CAP (odds ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.58, p = 0.009). In the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve of the non-HDL-C/HDL ratio for detecting CAP was 0.703 (95% confidence interval: 0.640–0.765) and the optimal cut-off point was 3.0 (Youden index 0.395).

Conclusion: The present study suggests that the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio might be a strong marker for predicting the risk of CAP in postmenopausal women.

Chinese abstract

背景：一种新的脂质关系, 非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(non-HDL-C/HDL-C)比值在单个日期上收集所有致动脉粥样硬化和抗动脉粥样硬化颗粒的信息。这种脂质标记物与绝经后妇女颈动脉粥样硬化斑块(CAP)的存在之间的关系尚不清楚。

方法：对70岁以上的绝经后妇女进行一级预防。分析非HDL-C/HDL-C比值与CAP存在之间的关系, 超声检查评估CAP。进行受试者工作特性(ROC)曲线分析。

结果：共入选440名女性, 平均年龄58.1±5.3岁。非HDL-C/HDL比值平均为3.1±1.2, 有CAP的妇女占28.2%。非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇比值的五分之一与CAP的患病率呈正相关(p<0.001)。无论其他危险因素如何, 非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇比值高的女性患CAP的机率更高（比值比1.30, 95%置信区间：1.07-1.58, p=0.009）。在ROC曲线分析中, 检测CAP的非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇比值曲线下面积为0.703(95%置信区间：0.640-0.765), 最佳分界点为3.0(尤登指数0.395)。

结论：本研究提示非HDL-C/HDL-C比值可能是预测绝经后妇女CAP风险的一个强有力的指标。

Keywords:

• Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio
• carotid atherosclerotic plaque
• postmenopause

Potential conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Source of funding

Nil.