Differential effects of the changes of LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure on the risk of carotid artery atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The effects of baseline and changes in blood pressure and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol on the carotid intima media thickness (IMT) have not been well documented.


METHODS
A total of 2572 adults (mean age 53.8 years, 54.6% women) in a Taiwanese community undertook three blood pressure and LDL cholesterol examinations over 6 years. Latent growth curve modeling was used to investigate the effects of baseline and change in blood pressure and LDL cholesterol on IMT.


RESULTS
Greater baseline LDL and blood pressure were associated with an increase in IMT (0.005 ± 0.002 mm per 1 mg/dL [p = 0.006] and 0.041 ± 0.004 mm mm Hg [p <0.0001], respectively. Change in blood pressure was associated with a significant increase in IMT (0.047 ± 0.016, P = 0.004), whilst the association between change in LDL and change in IMT was not statistically significant (0.008 ± 0.006, P = 0.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Carotid IMT was associated with baseline blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, yet only changes of blood pressure, not LDL cholesterol, were related to carotid IMT during the 6-year observation.
Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kuo-Liong
KL
Chien
Yu-Kang
YK
Tu
Hsiu-Ching
HC
Hsu
Ta-Chen
TC
Su
Hung-Ju
HJ
Lin
Ming-Fong
MF
Chen
Yuan-Teh
YT
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL