Key result
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was not associated with 15-month carotid atherosclerosis progression or incident vascular events in 3,341 subjects at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk.
Why the study?
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is a possible inflammation metric for detecting ASCVD risk, but results from prospective studies have been highly inconsistent.
Does the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predict carotid atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular events in subjects at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk?
Observational (n=3,341)
Does the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predict carotid atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular events in subjects at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk?
The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio does not appear to be a useful predictor of atherosclerosis progression or cardiovascular events in primary prevention patients at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk.
NLR should not inform risk assessment in moderate-to-high ASCVD risk patients; leaves open its value in other populations or longer follow-up.
Inflammation is a component of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a possible inflammation metric for the detection of ASCVD risk, although results of prospective studies are highly inconsistent on this topic. We investigated the cross-sectional relationship between NLR and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in subjects at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk. The prospective association between NLR, cIMT progression, and incident vascular events (VEs) was also explored. In 3341 subjects from the IMT-Progression as Predictors of VEs (IMPROVE) study, we analyzed the association between NLR, cIMT, and its 15-month progression. The association between NLR and incident VEs was also investigated. NLR was positively associated with cross-sectional measures of cIMT, but not with cIMT progression. The association between NLR and cross-sectional cIMT measures was abolished when adjusted for confounders. No association was found between NRL and incident VEs. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the hazard ratios (HRs) of VEs across NLR quartiles. NLR was neither associated with the presence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis, nor with the risk of VEs. Our findings do not support the role of NLR as a predictor of the risk of atherosclerosis progression and ASCVD events in subjects at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk, in primary prevention. However, the usefulness of NLR for patients at a different level of ASCVD risk cannot be inferred from this study.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mannarino et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Moderate-to-high ASCVD risk (n=3,341). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) vs. NLR quartiles was evaluated on Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression and incident vascular events (VEs). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was not associated with 15-month carotid atherosclerosis progression or incident vascular events in 3,341 subjects at moderate-to-high ASCVD risk.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: