Non-HDL-C Level May Better Predict CVD Mortality Than LDL-C Level

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http://www.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/06/06.13/20010612clin016.html

Non-HDL-C Level May Better Predict CVD Mortality Than LDL-C Level

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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jun 12 - The non-high-density lipoprotein

cholesterol (non-HDL-C) level is a somewhat

better predictor of death among individuals with cardiovascular disease than the

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

(LDL-C) level, according to a report in the June 11th issue of the Archives of

Internal Medicine.

Non-HDL-C, the difference between total cholesterol and the level of HDL-C,

includes measurements of triglycerides,

lipoprotein(a), intermediate-density lipoprotein and very-low-density

lipoprotein, Dr. S. Blumenthal, from The

s Hopkins University in Baltimore, noted in an interview with Reuters

Health.

Dr. Blumenthal and colleagues collected data on 2406 men and 2056 women, 40 to

64 years of age at baseline, who

participated in the Lipid Research Clinics Program Follow-up Study.

During an average of 19 years of follow-up, 234 men died of CVD, as did 113

women. In both men and women, the

researchers found, baseline HDL-C and non-HDL-C were significant and strong

predictors of CVD mortality, whereas

baseline LDL-C was a weaker predictor. " These results are probably due to

elevated triglyceride levels, " Dr. Blumenthal

said.

Among men, an increase of 0.78 mmol/L (30 mg/dL) in non-HDL-C was associated

with an increased risk of CVD of 19%, while

the same difference in LDL-C level was associated with a 15% increased risk. For

women, the same difference in non-HDL-C

and LDL-C was associated with an 11% and 8% increased risk of CVD, respectively.

" I think that non-HDL-C should be used along with LDL-C to gauge CVD risk,

because non-HDL-C is a very good target for

therapy in people who have elevated triglycerides, " Dr. Blumenthal said.

Reacting to the report, Dr. M. Grundy, from The University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, writes

in a journal editorial that " at present the main utility for non-HDL may be for

patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Until further prospective data become available, LDL-C likely will remain the

primary target therapy for lowering

cholesterol levels in cholesterol management guidelines. "

Arch Intern Med 2001;161:1379-1380,1413-1419.

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg ,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

gowatson@...