Prevention & lipids

Discordance among apolipoprotein B (apoB), non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides: implications for cardiovascular prevention

Eur Heart JPublished Prospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

High variability of apoB at individual levels of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and triglycerides coupled with meaningful differences in 10-year ASCVD rates and significant residual information contained in apoB for prediction of new-onset ASCVD events demonstrate that LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and triglycerides are not adequate proxies for apoB in clinical care.

Study context

Population
UK Biobank adults (age 40–73 years, 42% men) free of CVD19,982 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events
Participants
293,876 adults
Exposure
High vs low apoB at given levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-HDL-C and triglycerides
Outcome
New-onset ASCVD; 10-year ASCVD event rates and residual apoB as predictor
Follow-up
Median 11 years

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

10-year ASCVD rates, high vs low apoB at levels (±10 mg/dL) of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, triglycerides · 10 years
GroupAt LDL-C 130 mg/dLAt non-HDL-C 160 mg/dLAt triglycerides 115 mg/dL
High apoB7.36.47.0
Low apoB4.04.64.6

At LDL-C 130 mg/dL

High apoB7.3
Low apoB4.0

At non-HDL-C 160 mg/dL

High apoB6.4
Low apoB4.6

At triglycerides 115 mg/dL

High apoB7.0
Low apoB4.6
  • High apoB vs Low apoB: P < 0.001 — all three comparisons

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Residual apoB as predictor of new-onset ASCVD (adjusted model)

HR (95% CI)
Residual apoBAfter accounting for LDL-C and HDL-C1.06 (1.0–1.07)
Residual apoBAfter accounting for non-HDL-C and HDL-C1.04 (1.03–1.06)
Residual apoBAfter accounting for triglycerides and HDL-C1.13 (1.12–1.15)
No residual of LDL-C, non-HDL-C or log triglycerides remained significant when apoB was included

Correlation of apoB with LDL-C, non-HDL-C and log triglycerides

Pearson's r with LDL-C and non-HDL-C (P < .001 for both)
.96
R with log triglycerides (P < .001)
.42

apoB range capturing 95% of observations

LDL-C 130 mg/dL
85.8-108.8 md/dL
non-HDL-C 160 mg/dL
88.3-112.4 mg/dL
Triglycerides 115 mg/dL
67.8-147.4 md/dL

Original publication

Discordance among apoB, non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides: implications for cardiovascular prevention. Eur Heart J. Published 3 May 2024. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehae258

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