The impact of cumulative exposure to diverse lipid profiles on carotid intima-media thickness among an asymptomatic population

Abstract

Background and AimsWe aimed to investigate the relationship between the cumulative exposure to different lipid parameters and carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT), which is considered a marker for the early stage of atherosclerosis. This is due to the shift in research focus from assessing individual lipoproteins to considering their cumulative exposure. Methods and ResultsThe study included 2,348 participants who had their lipid parameters measured biennially since 2006.To calculate the cumulative lipid burden, the weighted sum of the difference between the measured value and the cutoff value of each parameter, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and non-HDLC, was added. Carotid ultrasound was used to detect CIMT. The association between cumulative lipid burden and CIMT was evaluated using linear and logistic analyses. TC and LDLC burden were significantly associated with thickening CIMT (p<0.05). A 2.65-fold, 1.67-fold increased risk of abnormal CIMT was documented in the highest quartile of these two lipid burdens. Notably, a dose-dependent relationship was observed in the overall population when taking non-HDLC burden as a continuous variable (fully-adjusted β coefficient=0.0013, 95%CI 0.0004-0.0022). ConclusionsOut of the five lipid parameters, TC and LDLC burden showed independent associations with abnormal CIMT. it is crucial to attain optimal lipid levels for the prevention and treatment of subclinical atherosclerosis.