title: Reduction in serum total cholesterol and risks of coronary events and cerebral infarction in Japanese men: the Kyushu Lipid Intervention Study.
abstract: Lowering serum total cholesterol is shown to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Western countries,but evidence is limited regarding cerebral infarction (CI). The present study used the Kyushu Lipid Intervention Study to examine the risks of CHD events and CI in relation to reduction in serum total cholesterol. Subjects were 4,615 men aged 45-74 years with serum total cholesterol of 220 mg/dl (5.68 mmol/L) or greater who had no history of CHD events or stroke. CHD events and CI numbered 125 and 92, respectively, in a 5-year follow-up. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the relative risks of CHD events and CI for 15% or greater reduction in total cholesterol, compared with less than 5% reduction, were 0.78 (95% confidence limit [CL]0.46-1.32) and 0.39 (95% CL 0.22-0.69), respectively. As compared with on-treatment cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dl (6.20 mmol/L)or higher, the risk of CHD events was approximately 50% lower across 3 categories below 240 mg/dl (6.20 mmol/L), and that of CI was 70%lower at 2 categories below 220 mg/dl (5.68 mmol/L). Lowering serum total cholesterol below 220 mg/dl (5.68 mmol/L) seems desirable with regard to the prevention of CI.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kikuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Suminori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kono
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002784:Cholesterol; D017035:Pravastatin