15-Year lipid profile effects on cardiovascular events adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors: a cohort study from Middle-East

Abstract

Background

Dyslipidaemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, there are only a few long-term cohort studies. The aim of this unique study is to evaluate the effects of several lipid markers on cardiovascular outcomes during a 15-year follow-up from the Isfahan cohort study (ICS).

Methods

This ongoing cohort study was started in 2001 in three cities of Iran. The study population includes 5432 individuals older than 35 years and with Iranian citizenship. All of the patients were evaluated every 2 years by telephone and a full medical examination with blood sampling was conducted every 5 years. The data were recorded in our checklists. Dyslipidaemia was defined according to the ATPIII criteria. Our endpoints in this study were any cardiovascular events such as stroke, sudden cardiac death, unstable angina or myocardial infarction (MI).

Results

cardiovascular events were significantly higher in males, older people, diabetics, smokers, patients with higher BMIs, higher blood pressure, dyslipidaemia and less educational level, physical activity index and global dietary index. Our adjusted multivariable analysis (for cardiovascular risk factors and demographic factors) revealed that dyslipidaemia could increase the risk of 15-year cardiovascular events by 1.59 times (HR = 1.59 [1.23–2.06], p value  < .001) adjusted for demographic factors and baseline cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions

Dyslipidaemia, as an independent risk factor, was associated with future cardiovascular events. In this regard, serum lipid screening can help to decrease the risk of long-term cardiovascular events.

Keywords:

• Lipid
• dyslipidaemias
• cardiovascular diseases
• cohort studies
• cardiovascular events
• risk factor

Acknowledgements

The authors express their kind gratitude towards Isfahan Cardiovascular research institute and ICS centre staffs and Mr. Amir Salar Moazen Safaei for his nice support through this research.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of institutional and national research committee and with 1964 Helsinki declarations and its later amendments. Informed written consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interests. All of the authors take responsibility for all aspects of the reliability and freedom from bias of the data presented and their discussed interpretation.

Additional information

Funding

The Iranian Budget and Planning Organization provided a grant [Grant No. 31309304] for baseline study.