There is substantial evidence from clinical trials that lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduces cardiovascular risk. There is less evidence for the salutatory effects of raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
Study authors identified a cohort of all 6928 patients in an urban primary care practice who had two or more lipid measurements between January 1985 and December 1997.
- Adjusting for other risk factors, a 10-mg/dL higher initial HDL-C was associated with an 11% lower risk of coronary events.
- A 10-mg/dL increase in HDL-C between lipid measurements was associated with a 7% lower risk of events.
- Neither initial or change in triglycerides nor LDL-C predicted subsequent coronary events.
CONCLUSION: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurements and change in HDL-C predicted major adverse coronary events in this urban practice, which provides support studying interventions targeting HDL-C for cardiovascular risk reduction.
A very interesting study, don't you think? LDL change had no effect, but HDL did? Treatment has focused on lowering LDL, but now companies are moving research dollars toward raising HDL cholesterol and, I suspect, we will all benefit.
See a previous post on raising HDL.