title: Low-density lipoprotein particle diameter and mortality: the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine whether differences in average diameter of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles were associated with total and cardiovascular mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 1643 subjects referred to coronary angiography, who did not receive lipid-lowering drugs. During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 398 patients died, of these 246 from cardiovascular causes. We calculated average particle diameters of LDL from the composition of LDL obtained by β-quantification. When LDL with intermediate average diameters (16.5-16.8 nm) were used as reference category, the hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors for death from any cause were 1.71 (95% CI: 1.31-2.25) and 1.24 (95% CI: 0.95-1.63) in patients with large (>16.8 nm) or small LDL (<16.5 nm), respectively. Adjusted HRs for death from cardiovascular causes were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.32-2.70) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.06-2.12) in patients with large or small LDL, respectively. Patients with large LDL had higher concentrations of the inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein than patients with small or intermediate LDL. Equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation revealed characteristic and distinct profiles of LDL particles in persons with large (approximately even distribution of intermediate-density lipoproteins and LDL-1 through LDL-6) intermediate (peak concentration at LDL-4) or small (peak concentration at LDL-6) average LDL particle diameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calculated LDL particle diameters identify patients with different profiles of LDL subfractions. Both large and small LDL diameters are independently associated with increased risk mortality of all causes and, more so, due to cardiovascular causes compared with LDL of intermediate size.
authors.affiliation: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Grammer
authors.affiliation: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcus E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kleber
authors.affiliation: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Graz A-8036, Austria Synlab Academy, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silbernagel
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Services, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siekmeier
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wieland
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria Specialist Clinic for Rehabilitation PVA Bad Aussee, Bad Aussee, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomaschitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II - Cardiology, University of Ulm Medical Centre, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Graz A-8036, Austria hubert.scharnagl@medunigraz.at.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scharnagl
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010316:Particle Size; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL
keywords: Cholesterol; Low-density lipoproteins; Mortality; Subfractions; Triglycerides