Triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol ratio is an independent predictor for coronary heart disease in a population of Iranian men☆
Received 2 June 2008; received in revised form 24 August 2008; accepted 5 September 2008. published online 17 December 2008.
Abstract
Background and aims
To determine whether triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), which has been shown to be an indicator of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance, can predict coronary heart disease (CHD) independently of total cholesterol (TC) and other risk factors in an Iranian population with a high prevalence of MetS and low HDL-C.
Methods and results
Between February 1999 and August 2001, 1824 men ≥40 years old, free of clinical cardiovascular diseases at baseline, were followed. Baseline measurements included serum level of TC, HDL-C, TG and risk factors for CHD including age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, diabetes, smoking and a family history of premature cardiovascular diseases. During a median follow up of 6.5 years until March 2007 (11,316 person-years at risk), a total of 163 new CHD events (27 fatal and 136 nonfatal) occurred. The prevalence of MetS in subjects with TG/HDL-C ≥6.9 (top quartile) reached 63.6% versus 3.0% in those with TG/HDL-C <2.8 (low quartile). According to a stepwise Cox proportional hazard model, including TG and TG/HDL-C quartiles, with TC and other risk factors, men in the top quartile of TG/HDL-C relative to the first quartile had a significant hazard ratio (HR) of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.02–3.00), while TG did not remain in the model.
Conclusion
The evaluation of TG/HDL-C ratio should be considered for CHD risk prediction in our male population with a high prevalence of MetS.
aPrevention of Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University (M.C.), Tehran, Iran
bEndocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University (M.C.), Tehran, Iran
Corresponding author. Prevention of Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University (M.C.), P.O. Box. 19395-4763 Tehran, Iran. Tel.: +98 21 22432503; fax: +98 21 22402463.
☆ Funding source: This study was supported by grant No. 121 from National Research Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
ABSTRACT