The Continuing Enigma of HDL

Both low and high HDL levels are associated with heightened risk for infections.

It is becoming increasingly clear that HDL has myriad effects beyond its traditionally understood role in atherosclerosis. Many previous investigators have wondered about the role of HDL in immunity and infections. To evaluate associations of HDL with infections, investigators retrospectively evaluated data from two population-based studies.

Of 97,166 individuals in the Copenhagen General Population Study, 9% had an infection-related hospitalization over a median of 6 years. The risk for an infection-related hospitalization had a U-shaped association with HDL level. Compared with individuals with moderate baseline HDL levels (85–93 mg/dL), people with HDL <31 mg/dL had a hazard ratio of 1.75, and those with HDL >100 mg/dL had a HR of 1.43. A…

Reviewing Author

Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, FACC

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBoehringer Ingelheim; Amgen; Novartis; Lilly; Amarin

Speaker’s BureauBoehringer Ingelheim

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsCirculation (Associate Editor)