Visit-to-visit lipid variability, coronary artery calcification, inflammation, and mortality in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Jeffrey Shi Kai Chan, Danish Iltaf Satti, Raymond Ngai Chiu Chan, Parag Chevli, Adhya Mehta, Seth S. Martin, Garima Sharma, Gary Tse, Salim S. Virani, Michael D. Shapiro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims This study aimed to explore relationships between visit-to-visit lipid variability, coronary artery calcification (CAC), inflammation, and long-term mortality, which may be prognostically relevant. Methods and results This prospective cohort study included participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with available plasma LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides from all three initial exams who underwent computed tomography CAC quantification at the third (index) exam. Visit-to-visit variability (coefficient of variation) was calculated from all three initial exams. Outcomes included the index Agatston score, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Altogether, 1515 participants were analysed. Higher HDL-C variability was associated with higher index Agatston score [Quartile 4 (Q4; vs. Q1) adjusted marginal effects 0.250.02-0.48)], but not LDL-C, TC, and triglyceride variability. Over a 15.1-year median follow-up, higher HDL-C [Q4vs.Q1: adjusted sub-hazard ratio 2.68(1.61-4.48)] and TC [Q4vs.Q1: adjusted sub-hazard ratio 2.13(1.17-3.89)] variability, but not LDL-C and triglyceride variability, was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular mortality, which remained significant after adjusting for the index Agatston score. Additionally, higher HDL-C variability was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality [Q4vs.Q1: adjusted hazard ratio 1.46(1.00-2.11)], but LDL-C, TC, and triglyceride variability were not. HDL-C [Q4vs.Q1: adjusted β: 0.132(0.034-0.230)] and TC [Q4vs.Q1: adjusted β: 0.210(0.064-0.357)] variability, but not LDL-C and triglyceride variability, may be correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Conclusion Elevated HDL-C variability was associated with greater CAC burden and long-term risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. These mortality-related associations were probably not completely explainable by atherosclerosis. Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00005487.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1235-1244
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Volume32
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2025

Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis
  • C-reactive protein
  • Calcium score
  • Coronary artery calcium
  • Inflammation
  • Lipid
  • MESA
  • Mortality
  • Variability

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