Non-optimal Lipids Commonly Present in Young Adults and Coronary Calcium Later in Life: The Cardia (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) Study. Pletcher, MJ et al. Annals of Internal Medicine 2010;153:137-146.
This study reported that non-optimal levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol during young adulthood (ages 18 to 30 years) was independently associated with coronary atherosclerosis two decades later. This study was conducted to determine whether non-optimal lipid levels during young adulthood could cause atherosclerotic changes in middle age. The study evaluated 3,258 participants in the CARDIA study. LDL & HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and coronary calcium levels were quantified. 87 percent of the participants had non-optimal levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, or triglycerides during young adulthood. Coronary calcium prevalence after 20 years was 8 percent in participants who maintained optimal LDL levels and 44 percent in participants with higher LDL levels. Both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were independently associated with coronary calcium. The results of this study reinforce the importance of achieving optimal LDL cholesterol levels early in life as a means to reduce atherosclerosis as early as middle age.
In a study "Cardiovascular Risk Factor Trends and Potential for Reducing Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in the United States of America ", published by Capewell, Ford, Croft, Critchley, Greenlund, and Labarthe in the Bull World Health Organ (2010), the authors estimated that if Healthy People 2010 CVD risk factor targets were reached, there would be approximately 188,000 fewer CHD deaths (from 2000 to 2010). The CVD risk factors considered were total cholesterol, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, physical activity, BMI, and diabetes.
The table below shows that for every 38.6 mg/dL decrease in total cholesterol, there is reduction in estimated CHD mortality that ranges from 10% to 68% for men and women. The projected decrease is greater with increasing age, and individuals 55 and older would derive the greatest benefit.
Percentage risk reduction for CHD mortality for every 1-unit change in major CVD risk factors
|
|
|
| Age (yr) |
|
|
|
| 25-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 |
| Per 1 mmHg decease in SBP |
|
|
|
|
|
| Men | ↓3.5% | ↓3.4% | ↓3.1% | ↓2.7% | ↓2.1% |
| Women | ↓4.5% | ↓4.5% | ↓3.4% | ↓3.1% | ↓2.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Per 1 mmol/L decrease in TC | ↓10% | ↓35% | ↓55% | ↓67% | ↓68% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Per 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI | ↑4% | ↑3% | ↑2% | ↑1% | ↑1% |
The table was provided by Dr. Guixiang Zhao, CDC.
These findings again reinforce the importance of controlling LDL-cholesterol (which tracks with total cholesterol) through healthy lifestyle practices (diet and physical activity), as well as drug therapy when indicated.
In a study "Cardiovascular Risk Factor Trends and Potential for Reducing Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in the United States of America ", published by Capewell, Ford, Croft, Critchley, Greenlund, and Labarthe in the Bull World Health Organ (2010), the authors estimated that if Healthy People 2010 CVD risk factor targets were reached, there would be approximately 188,000 fewer CHD deaths (from 2000 to 2010). The CVD risk factors considered were total cholesterol, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, physical activity, BMI, and diabetes.
The table below shows that for every 38.6 mg/dL decrease in total cholesterol, there is reduction in estimated CHD mortality that ranges from 10% to 68% for men and women. The projected decrease is greater with increasing age, and individuals 55 and older would derive the greatest benefit.
Percentage risk reduction for CHD mortality for every 1-unit change in major CVD risk factors
|
|
|
| Age (yr) |
|
|
|
| 25-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 |
| Per 1 mmHg decease in SBP |
|
|
|
|
|
| Men | ↓3.5% | ↓3.4% | ↓3.1% | ↓2.7% | ↓2.1% |
| Women | ↓4.5% | ↓4.5% | ↓3.4% | ↓3.1% | ↓2.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Per 1 mmol/L decrease in TC | ↓10% | ↓35% | ↓55% | ↓67% | ↓68% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Per 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI | ↑4% | ↑3% | ↑2% | ↑1% | ↑1% |
The table was provided by Dr. Guixiang Zhao, CDC.
These findings again reinforce the importance of controlling LDL-cholesterol (which tracks with total cholesterol) through healthy lifestyle practices (diet and physical activity), as well as drug therapy when indicated.
Keywords: optimal ldl-c coronary calcium future chd cardia study total cholesterol chd mortality total cholesterol chd mortality
