title: Relationships between HDL-C, hs-CRP, with central arterial stiffness in apparently healthy people undergoing a general health examination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some cardiovascular risk factors have been confirmed to be positively correlated with arterial stiffness. However, it is unclear whether HDL-C, a well-established anti-risk factor, has an independent association with arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between HDL-C levels and arterial stiffness and the possible role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in this potential correlation in apparently healthy adults undergoing a general health examination in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional survey. In total, 15,302 participants (age range, 18-82 years; mean, 43.88±8.44 years) were recruited during routine health status examinations. A questionnaire was used and we measured the body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose, and serum lipid, uric acid, hs-CRP, and serum creatinine levels of each participant. Central arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HDL-C levels decreased as cf-PWV increased. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that HDL-C levels were associated with cf-PWV (r=-0.18, P<0.001). hs-CRP levels were positively associated with cf-PWV (r=0.13). After adjustment for all confounders, HDL-C was inversely independently associated with all quartiles of cf-PWV. Furthermore, HDL-C was associated with cf-PWV in different quartiles of hs-CRP, and the correlation coefficients (r) gradually decreased with increasing hs-CRP levels (quartiles 1-4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HDL-C is inversely independently associated with central arterial stiffness. The anti-inflammatory activity of HDL-C may mediate its relationship with cf-PWV. Further, long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate whether high HDL-C levels are protective against central artery stiffening through the anti-inflammatory activity of HDL-C.
authors: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Yingzhen
authors: Y
authors: Du
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Fan
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Ye
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Yuan
authors: Xuechun
authors: X
authors: Lu
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein