Finding the “Sweet Spot” for High-Density Lipoprotein

Both very low and very high HDL levels are associated with increased mortality risk in two prospective cohorts of CAD patients.

Epidemiology studies show an inverse relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and cardiovascular risk; however, some recent data also show poor outcomes at very high HDL levels. To verify this observation, investigators used data from two prospective cohort studies, in the U.K. and U.S., examining the association between very high HDL level (>80 mg/dL) and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Among some 14,500 individuals in the U.K. study (mean age, 62; 76% men) and 5500 in the U.S. study (mean age, 64; 66% men), there was a U-shaped association between HDL level and mortality. Compared with individuals with midrange HDL levels (40–60 mg/dL), those with the lowest (≤30 mg/dL) or highest (>80 mg/dL…

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)