title: [Total/HDL cholesterol ratio and non HDL cholesterol as predictors for increased intima media thickness].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  LDL, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, are the most commonly used lipid cardiovascular risk predictor indicators. However population based studies have shown that non-HDL cholesterol and total/HDL cholesterol ratio are better predictors, are easy to measure and do not require fasting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine which lipid indicators are better determinants of subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by intima media thickness (IMT) among subjects without demonstrated atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipid profile, height, weight, blood pressure and bilateral IMT, measured by ultrasound with automatic border recognition software, were assessed in 770 men and 854 women aged 45 ± 11 years, in Santiago de Chile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total cholesterol was 202, HDL 50, LDL 121, triglycerides 157 and non-HDL cholesterol 152 mg/dl. Total/HDL cholesterol ratio was 4.3. Mean IMT was 0.62 mm. All lipid markers were significantly correlated with IMT. This correlation was higher for non-HDL cholesterol (r = 0.24, p < 0.0001) and total/HDL cholesterol ratio(r = 0.23, p < 0.0001). In both men and women, total/HDL cholesterol ratio was the best predictor of having an IMT over the 75th percentile (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence intervals 1.09-1.35, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total/HDL cholesterol ratio was the best determinant of subclinical atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: División de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. macevedo@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tagle
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corbalán
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arnaíz
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Berríos
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarrete
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002677:Chile; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides