The ratio of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol and myocardial infarction in Women's health in the Lund area (WHILA) : a 17-year follow-up cohort study

• BACKGROUND: Identifying variables predictive of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in women is important. The use of the ratio of total cholesterol-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) is often overlooked. The aim was to study TC/HDL-C in relation to later AMI, in a large sample of women, adjusted for age, educational status, smoking, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. The hypothesis was that increasing TC/HDL-C is associated with an increased risk of later AMI.METHODS: From December 1995 to February 2000, 6147 women aged 50-59 years from the Womens' Health in Lund area (WHILA) study in southern Sweden underwent a physical examination, laboratory tests and filled in a questionnaire. The women were followed through national registers for incidence of AMI during a mean follow up of 17 years.RESULTS: An increasing TC/HDL-C showed a strong relationship with AMI, with the lowest hazard ratio (HR = 1) in women with a ratio of ≤3.5. The HR for AMI was 1.14 (95% CI: 0.73-1.78) for those with a ratio between 3.5 and 4.0; in those with a ratio between 4.0 and 5.0 the HR for AMI was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.00-2.13) and in those with a ratio > 5.0 the HR was 1.89 (95% CI 1.26-2.82), after adjusting for potential confounding factors.CONCLUSIONS: TC/HDL-C ratio is a powerful predictor of AMI in middle-aged women. The results indicate that this variable should be used in clinical practice and is important for early identification of individuals at risk of AMI.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Biomarkers/blood

Cholesterol/blood

Cholesterol, HDL/blood

Dyslipidemias/blood

Follow-Up Studies

Humans

Middle Aged

Myocardial Infarction/blood

Predictive Value of Tests

Prognosis

Prospective Studies

Risk Assessment

Risk Factors

Sweden/epidemiology

Time Factors

Women's Health

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)