Combined Effect of High Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Metabolic Syndrome on Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in White Men Without Clinical Evidence of Myocardial Ischemia

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 2007-09, Vol.100 (5), p.840-843
• Main Authors: Campbell, Catherine Y., MD, Nasir, Khurram, MD, MPH, Sarwar, Ammar, MD, Meneghelo, Romeu S., MD, Carvalho, Jose A.M., MD, Blumenthal, Roger S., MD, Santos, Raul D., MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - etiology; Coronary heart disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia; European Continental Ancestry Group; Heart; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - complications; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - complications; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Myocardial Ischemia; Other metabolic disorders; Regression analysis; Risk Factors; Smoking; White people
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.04.018

High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) are established risk factors for clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relative contribution to CVD risk of MS and high LDL cholesterol is not well defined. Therefore, the aim was assess the relative risk for the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) with metabolic syndrome (MS) compared with that of moderate or high LDL cholesterol. A total of 440 consecutive asymptomatic men (mean age 46 ± 7 years, range 29 to 65) presenting for CVD risk stratification were studied. MS was defined using National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria (n = 112; 24%). Moderate LDL cholesterol was defined as 130 to 159 mg/dl, and high LDL cholesterol as ≥160 mg/dl (n = 76; 17%). Overall, CAC was observed in 190 men (40%). The prevalence of CAC >0 was lowest in MS-negative men with LDL cholesterol 0 was highest in MS-positive men combined with high LDL cholesterol. In conclusion, these results suggest that the risk of CAC in asymptomatic men with moderate or high LDL cholesterol is magnified in persons with MS.