Elevated serum lipids in veterans with combat-related chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To assess possible differences in serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, arteriosclerosis index, established risk factor (ERF) of arteriosclerosis, and 10-year risk for coronary disease according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) between veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a control group consisting of patients with major depressive disorder.


METHODS
We determined serum cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides in the patients with PTSD (n = 103) and patients with major depressive disorder (n = 92), using the enzyme-assay method. AI, ERF, and ATP-III were calculated from cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels. The groups were matched in age and body mass index (BMI). Patients with major depressive disorder were chosen as a control group because they do not have changes in serum lipids.


RESULTS
Patients with combat-related PTSD had higher mean concentration of cholesterol (6.2+/-1.1 mmol/L vs 5.3+/-0.9 mmol/L; p<0.001), LDL-C (3.9+/-0.7 mmol/L vs 3.5+/-1.0 mmol/L; p = 0.005), and triglycerides (2.9+/-2.3 mmol/L vs 1.5+/-0.5 mmol/L; p<0.001), and lower HDL-C (1.0+/-0.3 mmol/L vs 1.3+/-0.2 mmol/L; p<0.001) than the control group. Arteriosclerosis index (4.2+/-1.2 vs 3.7+/-1.7; p = 0.050), ERF (6.4+/-1.9 vs 5.5+/-2.4; p = 0.010), and ATP-III (12.1+/-3.3 vs 10.2+/-3.8; p<0.001) were higher in PTSD than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated concentrations of serum lipids are associated with combat-related PTSD. This may imply that patients with combat-related PTSD are under a higher risk for arteriosclerosis.
Solter
Vlasta
V
University Department of Psychiatry, Sisters of Mercy University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. dalibor.karlovic@zg.hinet.hr
Thaller
Vlatko
V
Karlović
Dalibor
D
Crnković
Danijel
D
D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017523:Croatia; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides