Non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol versus low density lipoprotein cholesterol as a discriminating factor for myocardial infarction

A dramatic increase in the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) has been observed in many countries. It has become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the middle aged and elderly population. Generally, MI results from risk factors for atherosclerosis [1]. Dyslipidemia has been proven to be an important modifiable risk factor for MI [2]. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) have been used as major laboratory measures in clinical practice to assess cardiovascular risk in the general population and disease management as well as prognosis in patients [3]. Recent studies, however, have shown that non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) concentration is similar to or better than LDL-C alone in the prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality [4–7]. Unlike LDL-C, which can be incorrectly calculated in the presence of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, non-HDL-C is reliable when measured in the non-fasting state [8]. Non-HDL-C can be calculated by subtracting HDL-C from TC both of which do not require fasting blood sample. Therefore, we aimed to compare non-HDL-C with LDL-C as a predictor of MI.

This is a cross-sectional study among 51 cases of MI admitted at Coronary care unit of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Bansbari, Kathmandu from 25th July to 24th Nov, 2010. MI was diagnosed based on the clinical history, ECG changes and biochemical parameters. During the time of admission of the patient, Troponin I was performed by Acon kit and CK-MB was performed by an analyser from Dade Baring. Fasting blood samples for lipid profile were collected on the morning of second day of admission. Equal number of age and sex matched healthy controls were chosen for comparison. The control subjects were such chosen that they did not have a history of CVD. Both patients and controls were living in the same area during the time period of the study. Lipid profile: TC, triglycerides (Tg) and HDL-C were performed in the biochemistry laboratory of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, from fully automated biochemistry analyzer BT 2000 plus. Non-HDL-C was calculated as TC minus HDL-C. LDL-C was calculated using Friedwald’s equation; LDL-C = TC – (HDL-C + Tg/5). LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios were calculated mathematically. Research proposal was approved by Institutional Review Board, Institute of Medicine and written consent was taken from all the participants. National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) guidelines was referred to define dyslipidemia [3]. According to NCEP-ATPIII guideline, hypercholesterolemia is defined as TC > 200 mg/dl, LDL-C as >100 mg/dl, hypertriglyceridemia as Tg >150 mg/dl and low HDL-C as <40 mg/dl. Dyslipidemia was defined by the presence of one or more than one abnormal serum lipid concentration. Non-HDL-C was considered normal below 130 mg/dl. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 14. Test for normality of data was done by Shapiro-Wilk Test. As there was not normal distribution of data, medians were compared by using Mann–Whitney U test and correlations among the different lipid parameters were determined using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of each lipid parameters were calculated by using chi-square test. The odds ratio (OR) (and the corresponding confidence interval) of having MI was estimated using Mantel-Haenszel common odds ratio. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed and area under the curve (AUC) was obtained for lipid parameters. All reported probability values (P-values) were based on two-sided tests and P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

This is probably the first case–control study in our part of the world aiming at identifying the importance of non-HDL-C in patients with MI. In our study, we identified HDL-C as the lipid parameter most strongly associated with MI followed by non-HDL-C. The association between low levels of HDL-C and an increased risk for CVD has been well established through epidemiological and clinical studies [9]. In a prospective study conducted among 1,799 Finnish men, it was shown that serum HDL-C of less than 42 mg/dl was associated with a 3.3-fold risk of MI. Adjustments for body mass index (BMI), history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (yes versus no), serum Tg and LDL-C concentration did not influence this relative hazards. Also, the study showed that serum LDL-C, Tg, fasting blood glucose level, BMI or history of DM was not significantly associated with the risk of MI [10]. The Framingham heart study also showed that low level of HDL-C was the major potent lipid risk factor for the incidence of coronary heart diseases [11]. These findings are supported by the potential antiatherogenic properties of HDL-C, including its mediation of reverse cholesterol transport, in which cholesterol from peripheral tissues is returned to the liver for excretion in the bile [12]. Moreover, HDL-C inhibits Ca²⁺ induced procoagulant activity on erythrocyte membranes [13]. HDL-C has also been shown to promote fibrinolysis [14]. Anti-oxidative property of HDL-C could be the other cardio-protective mechanism [15].

The differences in the median values of each lipid parameter were statistically significant between MI cases and controls which show that dyslipidemia is one of the factors responsible for the causation of MI. We found a good correlation of non-HDL-C with total as well as LDL cholesterol. This shows that the value of non-HDL cholesterol also reflects the value of total cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol. Non-HDL cholesterol is simply an estimate of all the atherogenic lipid particles as it includes LDL cholesterol, intermediate density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as very low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Sensitivity and specificity as well as PPV and NPV in the study showed that non-HDL-C is more powerful discriminating factor for MI than LDL-C.

Similarly, results from the ROC curve also confirm that non-HDL-C is better associated with MI than LDL-C (Figure 1). We also found that non-HDL-C was significantly correlated with all other lipid parameters; however LDL cholesterol was not significantly associated with Tg. The superiority of non-HDL-C over LDL-C may be due to the fact that triglycerides and subsequently triglyceride-rich lipoproteins may play an important role in the causation of MI. 33 cases with MI have higher Tg value in our study. Many studies have shown the involvement of Tg and particularly Tg rich lipoproteins in the pathogenesis of CVD. Tg rich lipoproteins have been shown to induce endothelial dysfunction, enhance monocyte adhesion [16], enter atherosclerotic plaques [17, 18] and inhibit reverse cholesterol transport [19]. The peroxidative products within the lipid core is also found to involve in plaque fissuring and lesion disruption [20]. Non-HDL-C has been proposed as a good estimator of the atherogenic potential in patients with high Tg [21]. The findings of Cui et al.; has also demonstrated non-HDL-C as a better predictor of CVD mortality than LDL-C during an average follow up of 19 years in 4462 dyslipidemic patients [4]. The strong association of lipid parameters with MI in our study is in agreement with the study of Goliasch et al.; [22]. Among 102 MI patients recruited by the authors, non-HDL-C was most strongly associated with MI followed by LDL-C. Similarly, Ridker et al.; showed that non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C were better lipid parameters than LDL-C as a predictor of future cardiovascular events in women [23].

Moreover, realizing the atherogenic potential of some Tg rich lipoproteins, NCEP ATP III has also introduced non-HDL-C as a secondary target of treatment in patients with high Tg after achieving LDL-C targets [3]. Non-HDL-C has also several practical advantages in clinical practice. It can be calculated in the non-fasting state by subtracting HDL-C from TC. In addition, it can also be calculated in the setting of hypertriglyceridemia where LDL-C estimation with Friedwald's formula is less accurate and is considered inapplicable in cases where Tg > 400 mg/dl [24].

In our study, we were interested to compare the bad cholesterols; non-HDL-C versus LDL-C as a discriminating factor for MI, and we found that non-HDL-C is a better discriminating parameter than LDL-C for MI. To measure HDL-C or non-HDL-C we do not need fasting blood sample whereas to measure LDL-C fasting blood sample is needed. Thus, the study gives the idea that both HDL-C and non-HDL-C are better discriminating parameters than LDL-C for MI and hence we can analyse random blood for HDL-C and non-HDL-C rather than waiting for fasting sample to measure LDL-C.

Dyslipidemia is one of the risk factors of MI. HDL-C and non-HDL-C are better discriminating parameters than LDL-C for MI. This study gives the idea that we can simply perform test from random blood sample to measure HDL-C and non-HDL-C rather than waiting for fasting sample to measure LDL-C.

1). Lecturer

2). Medical Lab Technologist

3). phd fellow

4). Lecturer

5). Lecturer

6). Cardiologist

7). Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry