Accumulated exposure to high non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in hypertensive individuals: An 11-year prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

Background

The relationship of cumulative non high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (Cum-non-HDL-C) concentration with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals with hypertension remains unclear.

Methods

In total 27 234 participants for whom three consecutive total cholesterol and HDL-C concentrations were available, and who did not have CVD, comprising 13 617 with hypertension and 13 617 without from 2006 to 2010. Participants were placed into four groups according to Cum-non-HDL-C. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between Cum-non-HDL-C and the risk of CVD.

Results

Over a median 11 years, 1,298 participants with hypertension developed CVD. After adjustment for multiple potential confounding factors, compared with participants with hypertension and Cum-non-HDL-C < 130 mg/dl, the fully adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of CVD associated with Cum-non-HDL-C values of 130–159 mg/dl, 160–189 mg/dl, and ≥ 190 mg/dl were 1.23 (1.01, 1.34), 1.27 (1.04, 1.56), and 1.51 (1.13, 2.01), respectively. Compared with participants without hypertension and a Cum-non-HDL-C < 130 mg/dl, the fully adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the participants with hypertension and Cum-non-HDL-Cs < 130 mg/dl, 130–159 mg/dl, 160–189 mg/dl, and ≥ 190 mg/dl were 1.84 (1.55, 2.18), 2.16 (1.81, 2.59), 2.17 (1.73, 2.70), and 2.45 (1.12, 3.29), respectively.

Conclusions

A consistently high non-HDL-C concentration increases the risk of CVD in individuals with hypertension, as does prolonged exposure to a high non-HDL-C concentration. Thus, the achievement of target blood pressure and non-HDL-C concentrations should help reduce the risk of CVD in individuals with hypertension.

KEYWORDS:

• Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
• cumulative exposure
• hypertension
• cardiovascular disease

Acknowledgments

We sincerely express our gratitude to all the participants in the Kailuan Study, as well as the staff of Kailuan General Hospital and its affiliated hospitals.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10641963.2023.2264540.

Sources of funding

This study has been supported by Provincial science and technology innovation strategy special project funding program (No. 221117237489175), and Shantou Medical Health Science and Technology Plan (No. 2021-68-48).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Provincial science and technology innovation strategy special project funding program [No. 221117237489175].