Key result
Small- and medium-sized LDL particles were positively and independently associated with carotid intimal medial thickening after menopause (P=0.01), with menopause status modifying the risk (interaction P=0.02).
Why the study?
Women experience changes in lipoprotein profiles and deterioration in vascular health measures during midlife, but whether menopause status modifies the associations between lipoprotein subfraction groups and subclinical vascular health was unclear.
Are lipoprotein subfractions associated with subclinical vascular health measures in midlife women, and does menopause status modify this association?
Observational (n=545)
Are lipoprotein subfractions associated with subclinical vascular health measures in midlife women, and does menopause status modify this association?
p-value: p=0.01
Small- and medium-sized LDL particles are independently associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in postmenopausal women, suggesting potential value in monitoring specific lipoprotein fractions for atherosclerotic risk assessment.
May inform postmenopausal vascular risk assessment; leaves open causal role and need for prospective validation.
OBJECTIVE: During midlife, women experience changes in lipoprotein profiles and deterioration in vascular health measures. We analyzed the associations of groups of lipoprotein subfractions as determined by principal component analysis (PCA) with subclinical vascular health measures in midlife women and tested if these associations were modified by menopause status. METHODS: PCA was used to generate principal components (PCs) from 12 lipoprotein subfractions quantified among 545 midlife women. The associations of the identified PCs and concurrent vascular health measures were assessed using linear or logistic regressions among participants with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT; n = 259), coronary artery calcium (n = 249), or aortic calcium (n = 248) scores. RESULTS: PCA generated four PCs representing groups of (1) small, medium, and large very low-density lipoproteins subclasses-very low-density lipoprotein PC; (2) very small, small, and medium low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses-small-medium LDL-PC; (3) large and small high-density lipoproteins subclasses and midzone particles-high-density lipoprotein PC; and (4) large LDL and small intermediate-density lipoproteins-large LDL-PC. Small-medium LDL-PC was positively associated with cIMT, coronary artery calcium, and aortic calcium in unadjusted but not in adjusted models. Menopause status modified the positive association of the small-medium LDL-PC with cIMT (interaction P = 0.02) such that this association was stronger after versus before menopause ( P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid intimal medial thickening is positively and independently associated with small- and medium-sized LDL particles after menopause. Monitoring levels of specific lipoprotein fractions may have value in identifying midlife women at risk for developing atherosclerotic vascular disease.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Qi et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Subclinical vascular disease (n=545). Small- and medium-sized LDL particles was evaluated on Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (p=0.01). Small- and medium-sized LDL particles were positively and independently associated with carotid intimal medial thickening after menopause (P=0.01), with menopause status modifying the risk (interaction P=0.02).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: