Remnant Cholesterol and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcium Progression: Insights From the CARDIA and MESA Study

Investigating the impact of remnant cholesterol on new-onset stroke across diverse inflammation levels: Insights from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)

BACKGROUND

Prior research underscores the significant impact of remnant cholesterol (RC) on stroke occurrence due to its proatherogenic and proinflammatory traits. This study aims to explore diverse risks of new-onset stroke associated with RC, considering distinct inflammation levels in the middle-aged and senior population in China.

METHODS

We analyzed 6509 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) across four waves (2011-2018). We employed a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model, incorporated restricted cubic spline techniques, and conducted sensitivity analyses to evaluate the association among RC, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and the risk of new-onset stroke.

RESULTS

Over 7 years, 540 new-onset strokes occurred. Individuals in the highest quartile of RC levels exhibited a heightened risk of new-onset stroke, with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) peaking at 1.50 (95% confidence interval 1.12-2.00, P for trend = 0.021), showing a non-linear correlation (P nonlinearity = 0.049). High hsCRP alone had an adjusted HR of 1.10 (95% CI 0.87-1.39), compared to 1.40 (95% CI 1.00-1.96) for high RC alone. Additionally, concurrent high RC and hsCRP showed an adjusted HR of 1.43 (95% CI 1.05-1.96). Consistency persisted across various hsCRP thresholds, after adjusting for additional parameters, or excluding chronic diseases in the primary model, reinforcing result robustness.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reveal a substantial and non-linear association between higher baseline RC levels and an elevated risk of new-onset stroke. Moreover, elevated levels of both RC and hsCRP jointly pose the highest risk for new-onset stroke, surpassing the risk associated with each factor individually.

Subclinical Atherosclerosis to Guide Treatment in Dyslipidemia and Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus are two common conditions that are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this review, we aimed to provide an in-depth and contemporary review of non-invasive approaches to assess subclinical atherosclerotic burden, predict cardiovascular risk, and guide appropriate treatment strategies. We focused this paper on two main imaging modalities: coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and computed tomography coronary angiography.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent longitudinal studies have provided stronger evidence on the relationship between increased CAC, thoracic aorta calcification, and risk of cardiovascular events among those with primary hypercholesterolemia, highlighting the beneficial role of statin therapy. Interestingly, resilient profiles of individuals not exhibiting atherosclerosis despite dyslipidemia have been described. Non-conventional markers of dyslipidemia have also been associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis presence and burden, highlighting the contribution of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB)-rich lipoprotein particles, such as remnant cholesterol and lipoprotein(a), to the residual risk of individuals on-target for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus, variability in atherosclerotic burden has also been found, and CAC testing has shown significant predictive value in stratifying cardiovascular risk. Non-invasive assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis can help reveal the continuum of ASCVD risk in those with dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus and can inform personalized strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention in the primary prevention setting.

Remnant cholesterol and risk of incident hypertension: a population-based prospective cohort study

Remnant cholesterol (RC) has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but its relationship with hypertension remains unclear. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between RC and subsequent hypertension risk. Data from the UK Biobank, comprising 295,062 participants initially free of hypertension, were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association between RC quartiles and hypertension risk. Discordance analysis evaluated the risk of hypertension in discordant/concordant groups of RC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using the difference in percentile units (>10 units). Restricted cubic spline curves were used to model the relationship between RC and hypertension risk. The mean ± SD age of participants was 55.1 ± 8.1 years, with 40.6% being men and 94.7% White. During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 39,038 participants developed hypertension. Comparing extreme quartiles of RC, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident hypertension was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.17-1.24). After adjusting for traditional risk factors, each 1 mmol/L increase in RC levels was associated with a 27% higher risk of incident hypertension (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.23-1.31). The discordant group with high RC/low LDL-C exhibited a higher risk of incident hypertension compared to the concordant group (HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03-1.09). Spline curves further demonstrated a positive association between RC and the risk of incident hypertension. We concluded that elevated RC emerged as an independent risk factor of incident hypertension, extending beyond traditional risk factors. Monitoring RC levels and implementing interventions to lower RC may have potential benefits in preventing hypertension.

Remnant cholesterol and the risk of aortic valve calcium progression: insights from the MESA study

BACKGROUND

Remnant cholesterol (RC) is implicated in the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, comprehensive population-based studies elucidating its association with aortic valve calcium (AVC) progression are limited, rendering its precise role in AVC ambiguous.

METHODS

From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis database, we included 5597 individuals (61.8 ± 10.1 years and 47.5% men) without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at baseline for analysis. RC was calculated as total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as estimated by the Martin/Hopkins equation. Using the adjusted Cox regression analyses, we examined the relationships between RC levels and AVC progression. Furthermore, we conducted discordance analyses to evaluate the relative AVC risk in RC versus LDL-C discordant/concordant groups.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 2.4 ± 0.9 years, 568 (10.1%) participants exhibited AVC progression. After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the HRs (95% CIs) for AVC progression comparing the second, third, and fourth quartiles of RC levels with the first quartile were 1.195 (0.925-1.545), 1.322 (1.028-1.701) and 1.546 (1.188-2.012), respectively. Notably, the discordant high RC/low LDL-C group demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of AVC progression compared to the concordant low RC/LDL-C group based on their medians (HR, 1.528 [95% CI 1.201-1.943]). This pattern persisted when clinical LDL-C threshold was set at 100 and 130 mg/dL. The association was consistently observed across various sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

In atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-free individuals, elevated RC is identified as a residual risk for AVC progression, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The causal relationship of RC to AVC and the potential for targeted RC reduction in primary prevention require deeper exploration.

Effects of remnant cholesterol on the efficacy of genotype-guided dual antiplatelet in CYP2C19 loss-of -function carriers with minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a post-hoc analysis of the CHANCE-2 trial

Background

The atherogenicity of remnant cholesterol (RC), a contributor to residual risk of cardiovascular events, has been underlined by recent guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between RC levels and the efficacy and safety of genotype-guided dual antiplatelet therapy in the CHANCE-2 trial.

Methods

This post-hoc study used data from the CHANCE-2 trial, which was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 6412 patients (aged >40 years) enrolled from 202 hospitals in China, between Sept 23, 2019, and March 22, 2021, who carried CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles and had either an acute minor stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and could start treatment within 24 h of symptom onset. Participants received either (1:1) ticagrelor plus aspirin (control) or clopidogrel plus aspirin (intervention) and the effect of reducing the 3-month risk of any new stroke was assessed (ischemic or haemorrhagic, primary outcome). From the CHANCE-2 study population, we enrolled 5890 patients with complete data on RC. The cutoff point of RC for distinguishing patients with greater benefit from ticagrelor-aspirin versus clopidogrel-aspirin was determined with subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot. The primary efficacy and safety outcome was recurrent stroke and severe or moderate bleeding within 90 days, respectively. CHANCE-2 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04078737.

Findings

The cutoff to define elevated RC was 0.91 mmol/L. Ticagrelor-aspirin versus clopidogrel-aspirin was associated with a reduced risk of recurrent stroke in patients with non-elevated RC levels (122 [5.3%] versus 179 [7.8%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.85), but this benefit was absent in those with elevated RC levels (58 [8.4%] versus 48 [7.3%]; HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.73-1.65; P-interaction = 0.03). When analyzed as a continuous variable, the benefit of ticagrelor-aspirin on recurrent stroke decreased as RC levels increased. The rates of severe or moderate bleeding between treatment groups were similar across RC categories (0.3% versus 0.3%, P-interaction = 0.95).

Interpretation

Our post-hoc findings suggest that RC could be a potential biomarker to discriminate patients who received more benefits from ticagrelor-aspirin versus clopidogrel-aspirin therapy in CYP2C19 loss-of-function carriers with minor stroke or TIA. These findings need to be validated in an independent study.

Funding

The National Key Research and Development Program of China, Beijing Natural Science Foundation Haidian original innovation joint fund, Fund for Young Talents of Beijing Medical Management Center, the high-level public health talents, Training Fund for Open Projects at Clinical Institutes and Departments of Capital Medical University; and Salubris.

Cumulative exposure to high remnant-cholesterol concentrations increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The relationship of cumulative remnant-cholesterol (Cum-RC) concentration with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with hypertension remains unclear.

METHODS

We studied data for 28,698 individuals for whom three consecutive total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride concentrations were available, and who did not have CVD (14,349 with hypertension and 14,349 without), that was collected between 2006 and 2010. Participants with hypertension were placed into four groups based on Cum-RC quartile: a Q1 group (< 26.40 mg/dl), a Q2 group (26.40-39.56 mg/dl), a Q3 group (39.57-54.65 mg/dl), and a Q4 group (≥ 54.66 mg/dl). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between Cum-RC and the risk of CVD.

RESULTS

Over a median 10.9 (interquartile range, 10.5-11.3) years, 1,444 participants with hypertension developed CVD. After adjustment for multiple potential confounding factors, and compared with the Q1 Cum-RC group of the participants with hypertension, the adjusted hazard ratios for CVD for the Q2-Q4 groups were 1.07(0.92,1.26), 1.08(0.91,1.28), and 1.26(1.03,1.54) (P = 0.0405); those for myocardial infarction were 1.51(1.00,2.31), 2.02(1.22,3.27), and 2.08(1.41,3.28) (P < 0.0001); and those for ischemic stroke were 1.02(0.84,1.24), 1.04(0.86,1.25), and 1.29(1.02,1.62), respectively (P = 0.0336). However, no significant relationship was found between Cum-RC and the risk of hemorrhage stroke. At the same Cum-RC, the risk of CVD was significantly higher in participants with hypertension than in those without.

CONCLUSIONS

A consistently high remnant-cholesterol concentration increases the risk of CVD in individuals with hypertension. Therefore, the achievement of blood pressure and RC concentration targets should help reduce the risk of CVD in individuals with hypertension.

Remnant cholesterol and mild cognitive impairment: A cross-sectional study

Objective

Emerging evidence suggests that elevated remnant cholesterol (RC) correlates with several health conditions. To explore the association of plasma RC with MCI incidence and the relationship between plasma RC and different domains of cognition in MCI patients.

Methods

Thirty-six MCI patients and 38 cognitively healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in the present cross-sectional study. Using total cholesterol (TC) minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as the formula for calculating fasting RC. Cognition was assessed using the Chinese version of the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT), and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF).

Results

Compared to healthy controls, MCI patients had a higher level of RC, the median difference in RC levels between these two groups was 8.13 mg/dl (95.0%CI: 0.97–16.1). Concurrently, plasma RC level was positively associated with MCI risk (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01–1.10). Notably, elevated RC level was correlated with impaired cognition in MCI patients, such as DSST (pr = −0.45, p = 0.008), ROCF- Long Delayed Recall (pr = −0.45, p = 0.008), AVLT-Immediate Recall (pr = −0.38, p = 0.028), and TMT-A (pr = 0.44, p = 0.009). Conversely, no significant correlation was found between RC and the AVLT-Long Delayed Recall test.

Conclusion

This study found that plasma remnant cholesterol was associated with MCI. Further large longitudinal studies are needed in the future to confirm the results and clarify the cause-and-effect relationship.

Imaging subclinical coronary atherosclerosis to guide lipid management, are we there yet?

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD) is an ongoing epidemic, and lipid abnormalities are its primordial cause. Most individuals suffering a first ASCVD event are previously asymptomatic and often do not receive preventative therapies. The cornerstone of primary prevention has been the identification of individuals at risk through risk calculators based on clinical and laboratory traditional risk factors plus risk enhancers. However, it is well accepted that a clinical risk calculator misclassifies a significant proportion of individuals leading to the prescription of a lipid-lowering medication with very little yield or a missed opportunity for lipid-lowering agents with a potentially preventable event. The development of coronary artery calcium scoring (CAC) and CT coronary angiography (CCTA) provide complementary tools to directly visualize coronary plaque and other risk-modifying imaging components that can potentially provide individualized lipid management. Understanding patient selection for CAC or potentially CCTA and the risk implications of the different parameters provided, such as CAC score, coronary stenosis, plaque characteristics and burden, epicardial adipose tissue, and pericoronary adipose tissue, have grown more complex as technologies evolve. These parameters directly affect the shared decision with patients to start or withhold lipid-lowering therapies, to adjust statin intensity or LDL cholesterol goals. Emerging lipid lowering studies with non-invasive imaging as a guide to patient selection and treatment efficacy, plus the evolution of lipid lowering therapies from statins to a diverse armament of newer high-cost agents have pushed these two fields forward with a complex interaction. This review will discuss existing risk estimators, and non-invasive imaging techniques for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, traditionally studied using CAC and more recently CCTA with qualitative and quantitative measurements. We will also explore the current data, gaps of knowledge and future directions on the use of these techniques in the risk-stratification and guidance of lipid management.