title: Plasma levels of apolipoprotein E and risk of ischemic heart disease in the general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are causally associated with high risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), and apolipoprotein E (apoE) has a central role in their plasma clearance. While both quantitative and qualitative changes of apoE are established causes of rare dyslipidemia syndromes, it remains unclear whether plasma levels of apoE are associated with risk of IHD in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested whether plasma levels of apoE at enrollment were associated with future risk of IHD and myocardial infarction (MI) in 91,695 individuals from the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multifactorially adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for highest versus lowest apoE tertile were 1.15 (1.04-1.27) for IHD and 1.16 (1.00-1.36) for MI in men, and 0.94 (0.84-1.05) and 1.04 (0.85-1.26) in women. These associations were attenuated by adjustments for triglyceride levels. Corresponding HRs for highest versus lowest apoE tertile in ε33 carriers were 1.18 (1.03-1.36) for IHD and 1.21 (0.98-1.49) for MI in men, and 0.91 (0.78-1.06) and 0.93 (0.71-1.21) in women. Thus, the present associations were independent of APOE genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that high plasma levels of apoE are associated with IHD in men but not in women. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins may partly explain these associations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: katrine.laura.rasmussen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Katrine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark; The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: anne.tybjaerg.hansen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tybjærg-Hansen
authors.affiliation: The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark; The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: boerge.nordestgaard@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Børge G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Nordestgaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: ruth.frikke-schmidt@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frikke-Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C000612345:ApoE protein, human; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: APOE; Apolipoprotein E; Genetics; HDL; Ischemic heart disease; Myocardial infarction; Triglycerides