TABLE 1.
Characteristics of the study sample across VLDL-C Quartiles
| Variable | VLDL-C Quartile 1 (n=436) |
VLDL-C Quartile 2 (n=480) |
VLDL-C Quartile 3 (n=483) |
VLDL-C Quartile 4 (n=480) |
P value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 60 (54–67) | 60 (54–66) | 60 (53–66) | 58 (53–64) | 0.012 |
| Female (%) | 43.6% | 39.8% | 32.1% | 28.5% | <0.001 |
| Race (%) | <0.001 | ||||
| White | 51.6% | 54.2% | 64.6% | 71.9% | |
| Black | 42.7% | 40.8% | 29.0% | 21.6% | |
| Hispanic | 28.6% | 21.4% | 28.6% | 21.4% | |
| Other | 18.8% | 21.7% | 27.5% | 31.9% | |
| Blood pressure (mmHg) | |||||
| Systolic | 129 (120–141) | 131 (121–141) | 131 (122–142) | 132 (122–142) | 0.008 |
| Diastolic | 74 (70–81) | 74 (71–82) | 77 (71–83) | 77 (72–83) | <0.001 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dl) | 156.5 (137–179) | 163.5 (144–185) | 173 (153–196) | 197 (168–224) | <0.001 |
| HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) | 52 (44–64) | 47 (41–56) | 43 (37–52) | 38 (33–46) | <0.001 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) | 68 (56–83) | 96.5 (82–113) | 133 (111–164) | 217 (179–276) | <0.001 |
| LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) | 88 (74–108) | 93 (78–113) | 99 (81–119) | 102 (77–126) | <0.001 |
| Remnant Cholesterol (TC-LDLC-HDL) | 13.6 (11.2–16.6) | 19.3 (16-4–22.6) | 26.6 (22.2–32.8) | 43.4 (35.9–55.3) | <0.001 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 30.8 (27.2–35.0) | 32.0 (28.2–36.1) | 32.9 (28.9–37.2) | 32.4 (29.6–36.7) | <0.001 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 40.3 (36.5–44.0) | 41.0 (37.5–45.4) | 43.0 (39.9–46.5) | 42.5 (39.5–46.5) | <0.001 |
| Metabolic syndrome (%) | 64.2% | 71.0% | 83.0% | 94.8% | <0.001 |
| Duration of diabetes (years) | 6 (3–12) | 6 (2–11) | 6 (3–11) | 6 (3–10) | 0.128 |
| Hemoglobin A1c (%) | 6.6% (6.1–7.2) | 6.5 (6.0–7.4) | 6.7% (6.1–7.8) | 7.0% (6.4–8.1) | <0.001 |
| Glucose (mg/dl) | 107 (88–129) | 109 (90–137) | 120 (97–152) | 129 (105–164) | <0.001 |
| Current tobacco use (%) | 56.4% | 59.0% | 60.0% | 59.9% | 0.257 |
| Current alcohol use (%) | 52.1% | 50.4% | 53.4% | 49.9% | 0.763 |
| 10 year Framingham risk (%)‡ | 11% (7–16) | 13% (8–20) | 16% (10–25) | 20% (13–31) | <0.001 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 1.57 (0.73–3.52) | 1.58 (0.86–4.10) | 2.08 (0.96–4.56) | 2.10 (1.00–4.64) | <0.001 |
| Lipid lowering | |||||
| medications Statins | 59.4% | 61.9% | 55.3% | 47.2% | <0.001 |
| Niacin | 4.8% | 4.0% | 6.6% | 6.8% | 0.060 |
| Fibrates | 2.5% | 4.4% | 6.8% | 11.9% | <0.001 |
| Ezetimibe | 5.7% | 6.5% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 0.111 |
| Fish Oil | 11.0% | 13.1% | 17.8% | 12.9% | 0.161 |
| Diabetes medications Metformin | 62.6% | 61.0% | 65.6% | 61.1% | 0.992 |
| Sulfonylureas | 28.9% | 32.5% | 36.4% | 40.1% | <0.001 |
| Thiazolidinediones | 21.1% | 22.1% | 23.6% | 23.3% | 0.349 |
| Insulin | 24.3% | 20.40% | 22.40% | 18.9% | 0.104 |
| Serum creatinine (mg/dl) | 0.90 (0.76–1.00) | 0.90 (0.72–1.00) | 0.90 (0.80–1.04) | 0.90 (0.80–1.10) | <0.001 |
| CAC score | |||||
| Median (IQR) | 19.5 (0–252.5) | 19 (0–282.5) | 54 (0–283) | 63 (0–311) | 0.001 |
| >0 (%) | 59.4% | 62.3% | 67.7% | 70.9% | <0.000 |
Metabolic syndrome was defined as have 3 or more following: waist circumference ≥ 102 cm or 40 inches (male), ≥ 88 cm or 35 inches(female), dyslipidemia: TG ≥ 1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dl), HDL-C < 40 mg/dl (male), < 50 mg/dl (female), blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg (or treated for hypertension). Data are presented as median (IQR) or as percentages, except as indicated.
*
P-value is from nonparametric test for trend across ordered groups, an extension of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. ‡Total cholesterol 10-year Framingham risk percentage.
Abbreviations:
CAC=coronary artery calcium
HDL= high density lipoprotein
LDL = low density lipoprotein
VLDL-C= very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol