Low HDL cholesterol but not high LDL cholesterol is independently associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in healthy octogenarians

Wladimir M. Freitas, Luiz A. Quaglia, Simone N. Santos, Rafaela C.S. de Paula, Raul D. Santos, Michael Blaha, Juan J. Rivera, Ricardo Cury, Roger Blumenthal, Wilson Nadruz-Junior, Arthur Agatston, Valeria N. Figueiredo, Khurram Nasir, Andrei C. Sposito

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim of the study: Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been consistently demonstrated a predictor of atherosclerotic disease in a large spectrum of clinical settings, among individuals aged of 80 years or older this concept is uncertain. This study was evaluated in a carefully selected population if the association between LDL-C and coronary atherosclerotic burden remains significant in the very elderly.Methods: Individuals aged of 80 years or older (n = 208) who spontaneously sought primary prevention care and have never manifested cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, neoplastic or consumptive disease were enrolled for a cross-sectional analysis. Medical evaluation, anthropometric measurements, blood tests and cardiac computed tomography were obtained.Results: In analyses adjusted for age, gender, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, smoking and statin therapy, no association was found between coronary calcium score (CCS) and LDL-C [1.79 (0.75–4.29)]. There was no association between triglycerides and CCS. The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and CCS was significant and robust in unadjusted [0.32 (0.15–0.67)] as well as in the fully adjusted analysis [0.34 (0.15–0.75)].Conclusion: The present study confirms in a healthy cohort of individuals aged of 80 years or more that while the association between LDL-C and coronary atherosclerosis weakens with aging, the opposite occurs with the levels of HDL-C.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)61-67
Number of pages7
JournalAging Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2015

Keywords

  • Coronary calcium score
  • HDL cholesterol
  • LDL cholesterol
  • Subclinical atherosclerosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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