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. 2019 Mar 15;321(11):1081–1095. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.1572

Figure 2. Associations Between Each Additional 300 mg of Dietary Cholesterol Consumed per Day and Incident CVDand All-Cause Mortality.

Figure 2.

See the Figure 1 footnote for conditions included in the incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) definition. There were 5400 incident CVD events and 6132 all-cause deaths (N=29 615 participants). Mean dietary cholesterol consumption in the United States was 293 mg per day.27 For results interpretation, use model 2 as a reference standard (indicated by dotted line). Each additional 300 mg of dietary cholesterol consumed per day was significantly associated with a higher relative risk (RR) of incident CVD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.17 [95% CI, 1.09-1.26]) and a higher absolute risk of incident CVD (adjusted absolute risk difference [ARD], 3.24% [95% CI, 1.39%-5.08%]) over the maximum follow-up of 31.3 years. Each additional 300 mg of dietary cholesterol consumed per day was significantly associated with a higher RR of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.10-1.26]) and a higher absolute risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted ARD, 4.43% [95% CI, 2.51%-6.36%]) over the maximum follow-up of 31.3 years.

aARD estimation (see Figure 4, footnote “a” for description). The maximum follow-up time of 31.3 years, mean of the included covariates, and a difference of 300 mg per day in dietary cholesterol consumption were used.

bCohort-stratified cause-specific hazard models were used for incident CVD. Cohort-stratified standard proportional hazard models were used for all-cause mortality.

cModels: see Statistical Analysis section for descriptions of models 1, 2, and 3.

dIncluded unprocessed red meat and processed meat (adjusted separately).

eMeat and fish were removed from calculating these dietary scores.

fFruits, legumes, potatoes, other vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, refined grains, low-fat dairy products, and sugar-sweetened beverages were included. Eggs, meat, and fish were excluded (major sources of dietary cholesterol).

See Figure 4 footnote for aHEI-2010, aMED, and DASH term expansions.