Abstract 13721: Coronary Artery Calcium for Risk Stratification Among Persons With Very-High High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Abstract

Introduction: Persons with very-high high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) may experience an increased mortality risk. However, the predictors of mortality among those with very-high HDL-C remain unknown. Hypothesis: Compared to traditional risk factors, coronary artery calcium (CAC) will more strongly stratify risk among individuals with very-high HDL-C. Aims: Among individuals with very-high HDL-C, to 1) calculate crude all-cause mortality rates across the burden of traditional risk factors and CAC, and 2) identify independent risk factors associated with all-cause mortality. Methods: There were 335 primary prevention patients from the CAC Consortium who had very-high HDL-C ( > 80 mg/dL in men, > 100 mg/dL in women) and available information on traditional CVD risk factors. Crude all-cause mortality rates were calculated per 1,000 person-years. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association of traditional risk factors and CAC with mortality. Results: The mean age was 58.6 years old, 51.0% were women, 51.3% had prevalent CAC, and the median HDL-C was 100 mg/dL. There were 20 deaths (6.0%) over a median follow-up of 10.5 years, 7 (2.1%) of which were attributable to CVD. There was a stepwise higher crude mortality rate per 1,000 person-years across increasing CAC burden ( Central Illustration ). Independent of traditional risk factors, each 100 Agatston Unit increase in CAC score was associated with a 7% higher hazard of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12) and individuals with CAC > 1000 experienced a 5.75-fold higher hazard of mortality when compared to CAC=0 (HR: 5.75, 95% CI: 1.26-26.24). Beyond age, no traditional risk factor was associated with mortality in multivariable analyses. Conclusion: Measurement of CAC on non-contrast cardiac computed tomography may facilitate risk assessment among individuals with very-high HDL-C.