title: Low HDL cholesterol but not high LDL cholesterol is independently associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in healthy octogenarians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been consistently demonstrated a predictor of atherosclerotic disease in a large spectrum of clinical settings, among individuals aged of 80 years or older this concept is uncertain. This study was evaluated in a carefully selected population if the association between LDL-C and coronary atherosclerotic burden remains significant in the very elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals aged of 80 years or older (n = 208) who spontaneously sought primary prevention care and have never manifested cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, neoplastic or consumptive disease were enrolled for a cross-sectional analysis. Medical evaluation, anthropometric measurements, blood tests and cardiac computed tomography were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In analyses adjusted for age, gender, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, smoking and statin therapy, no association was found between coronary calcium score (CCS) and LDL-C [1.79 (0.75-4.29)]. There was no association between triglycerides and CCS. The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and CCS was significant and robust in unadjusted [0.32 (0.15-0.67)] as well as in the fully adjusted analysis [0.34 (0.15-0.75)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirms in a healthy cohort of individuals aged of 80 years or more that while the association between LDL-C and coronary atherosclerosis weakens with aging, the opposite occurs with the levels of HDL-C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas Medical School (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13084-971, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wladimir M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Luiz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Quaglia
authors.forename: Simone N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Rafaela C S
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Raul D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaha
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nadruz-Junior
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agatston
authors.forename: Valeria N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Khurram
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.forename: Andrei C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sposito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011322:Primary Prevention; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides