Cholesterol and triglyceride concentration as risk factors for myocardial infarction and death in women, with special reference to influence of age.

Abstract

To evaluate the importance of serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations as predictors of myocardial infarction and death in women of different ages. Prospective observational study, initiated in 1968-69. Setting. Gothenburg, Sweden, with about 430 000 inhabitants. A population-based sample of 1462 women aged 38, 46, 50, 54 and 60 years at start of the study, followed up for 24 years. Main outcome measures. Within each age group, myocardial infarction and death were predicted by serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations and smoking in a multivariate model. In the total population only serum triglyceride concentration was a strong independent risk factor for both end-points studied. Serum triglyceride concentration measured in 38- and 46-year-old women had no predictive value with respect to 24-year incidence of myocardial infarction or death. In 50-, 54- and 60-year-old women, high serum triglyceride concentration consistently predicted myocardial infarction and total mortality. Serum cholesterol concentration, on the other hand, showed evidence of direct association for 24-year all-cause mortality in the younger premenopausal group. Serum cholesterol had no predictive value for myocardial infarction or mortality in the peri- and postmenopausal ages. There appears to be age-specificity in association between serum lipids and these end-points in women, serum cholesterol concentration being more important for younger women and serum triglyceride concentration more important for postmenopausal women as risk factors, observations which need further attention.