Association of remnant cholesterol with Coronary Artery Ectasia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objective Coronary Artery Ectasia (CAE) is a condition characterized by the localized or widespread dilation of one or more coronary arteries. The majority of CAE cases do not present with clinical symptoms, and the exact cause of CAE remains unclear. Therefore, in our study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to explore potential causes of CAE. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent coronary angiography at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital between 2017 and July 2022, of which 679 patients ultimately enrolled in our study. Among them, 260 patients were diagnosed with CAE, whereas 419 patients with normal coronary results served as the control group. Remnant cholesterol (RC) was calculated by total cholesterol (TC) minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Association between RC levels and CAE was assessed using multivariable logistic models. Results Out of the 679 patients who participated in this study, with an average age of 59.9 years, 38.3% were diagnosed with CAE. Patients with CAE had higher RC levels compared to those without CAE (P = 0.001). A significant positive association was observed between RC levels and CAE, with a multivariable adjusted OR of 1.950 (95% CI: 1.163–3.270). There was a significant positive association between RC levels and CAE in both single-vessel and multivessel dilation cases, as well as in isolated CAE and dilation secondary to coronary atherosclerosis. In the subgroup analyses, RC levels were positively associated with CAE in participants with hypertension (OR, 1.065; 95% CI, 1.034–1.098). Conclusion Elevated RC levels are positively correlated with an increased risk of CAE, implying that a focus on RC could be beneficial in the research of CAE.