Cumulative prior exposure to LDL-C was significantly associated with increased incident cardiovascular disease event risk (HR 1.053 per 100 mg/dl × years; p<0.0001).
Cohort (n=4,958)
Does cumulative prior exposure to LDL-C and the time course of area accumulation predict incident cardiovascular disease event risk in asymptomatic young adults?
Cumulative LDL-C exposure and its accumulation at a younger age independently increase the risk of incident cardiovascular events, highlighting the importance of early optimal LDL-C control.
Effect estimate: HR 1.053
p-value: p=<0.0001
BACKGROUND Incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration and exposure duration. Area under the LDL-C versus age curve is a possible risk parameter. Data-based demonstration of this metric is unavailable and whether the time course of area accumulation modulates risk is unknown. OBJECTIVES Using CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study data, we assessed the relationship of area under LDL-C versus age curve to incident CVD event risk and modulation of risk by time course of area accumulation-whether risk increase for the same area increment is different at different ages. METHODS This prospective study included 4,958 asymptomatic adults age 18 to 30 years enrolled from 1985 to 1986. The outcome was a composite of nonfatal coronary heart disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, heart failure hospitalization, cardiac revascularization, peripheral arterial disease intervention, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS During a median 16-year follow-up after age 40 years, 275 participants had an incident CVD event. After adjustment for sex, race, and traditional risk factors, both area under LDL-C versus age curve and time course of area accumulation (slope of LDL-C curve) were significantly associated with CVD event risk (hazard ratio: 1.053; p < 0.0001 per 100 mg/dl × years; hazard ratio: 0.797 per mg/dl/year; p = 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Incident CVD event risk depends on cumulative prior exposure to LDL-C and, independently, time course of area accumulation. The same area accumulated at a younger age, compared with older age, resulted in a greater risk increase, emphasizing the importance of optimal LDL-C control starting early in life.
“This underscores the importance of optimal LDL-C early in life, because lower LDL-C later, even when low enough to result in the same area at a landmark age, does not fully reverse risk acquired earlier.”
Domanski et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Asymptomatic adults (n=4,958). Cumulative LDL-C exposure (area under LDL-C versus age curve) was evaluated on Composite of nonfatal coronary heart disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, heart failure hospitalization, cardiac revascularization, peripheral arterial disease intervention, or cardiovascular death (HR 1.053, p=<0.0001). Cumulative prior exposure to LDL-C was significantly associated with increased incident cardiovascular disease event risk (HR 1.053 per 100 mg/dl × years; p<0.0001).
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