Faculty Bibliography

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in the general population. Conflicting data exist on the protective effects of high HDL cholesterol in patients with optimal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. To determine the association of high HDL cholesterol with mortality in patients with LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention, 3,616 consecutive patients with LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from July 1, 1999, to June 1, 2007, were retrospectively analyzed and followed through July 1, 2007. All-cause mortality was identified using the National Death Index. The mortality rates was 34.7, 25.2, 23.7, and 18.8 per 1,000 person-years in patients with HDL cholesterol levels of <40, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and > or =60 mg/dl, respectively (p for trend <0.001). After multivariate adjustment for demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, biochemical variables, and co-morbid conditions, the hazard ratios for mortality in patients with HDL cholesterol levels of 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and > or =60 mg/dl, compared with their counterparts with HDL cholesterol levels <40 mg/dl, were 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50 to 0.93), 0.55 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.85), and 0.45 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.74), respectively. For each 1-SD increase in HDL cholesterol level (14 mg/dl), the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.68 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.79). In conclusion, in patients with LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, a strong inverse association was present between HDL cholesterol level and all-cause mortality.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on the use of statins after publication of the National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) guidelines in 2001. OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in statin use and its impact on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control among US adults from 1999 to 2004. METHODS: High LDL-C levels and statin use among 1911 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 were determined and compared with 1770 and 2094 participants of NHANES 1999-2000 and NHANES 2001-2002, respectively. Statin use was obtained from review of participants' drug containers. High LDL-C levels and LDL-C control were defined, using risk-specific cut-points from the ATP-III guidelines. RESULTS: Statins were taken by 24 million Americans in 2003-2004, an increase from 12.5 million in 1999-2000. In 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004, statins were being used by 19.6%, 27.3%, and 35.9% of US adults with high LDL-C levels, respectively (p trend <0.001). Age-standardized mean LDL-C declined from 119.9 to 112.0 to 100.7 mg/dL among statin users between 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004. LDL-C control to ATP-III recommended targets was achieved by 49.7%, 67.4%, and 77.6% of statin users in 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004, respectively (p trend <0.001). Among US adults with high LDL-C, after multivariate adjustment, non-Hispanic blacks were 39% less likely (prevalence ratio = 0.61; 95 CI 0.39 to 0.97) than non-Hispanic whites to be taking statins. CONCLUSIONS: Statin use continues to increase among US adults and this has led to substantial improvements in LDL-C control. Nevertheless, suboptimal statin use, especially among racial/ethnic minorities, continues to prevent the maximal public health benefit from this effective drug class.

Previous studies indicated that serum cystatin C, a marker of renal function, was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few data about this association are available for persons without chronic kidney disease or albuminuria. Data from 4,991 subjects in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with an estimated glomerular filtration rate > or =60 ml/min/1.73 m2 without micro- or macroalbuminuria were analyzed. Subjects were categorized into quartiles of serum cystatin C and compared for prevalence of CVD. CVD was defined as a history of myocardial infarction, angina, or stroke. After age standardization, prevalences of CVD from the lowest to highest quartile of serum cystatin C were 6.0%, 8.8%, 11.8%, and 16.7% (p-trend = 0.006). Also, age-standardized prevalences of myocardial infarction across quartiles of serum cystatin C were 1.9%, 4.4%, 6.6%, and 8.6%; age-standardized prevalences of angina were 2.4%, 4.4%, 4.2%, and 7.1%; and age-standardized prevalences of stroke were 2.5%, 1.6%, 3.5%, and 4.4% (each p-trend <0.05). Each 1-SD higher serum cystatin C level was associated with a multivariate prevalence ratio of CVD of 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13 to 2.13), and multivariate-adjusted prevalence ratios were 1.44 (95% CI 1.01 to 2.07), 1.64 (95% CI 1.02 to 2.64), and 1.65 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.56) for myocardial infarction, angina, and stroke, respectively. In conclusion, a graded association exists between higher serum cystatin C and increased CVD prevalence in patients without established chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Although high body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, limited data exist on the association of overweight and obesity with early stages of kidney disease. METHODS: Cross-sectional data for 5083 participants of the nationally representative Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with an estimated glomerular filtration rate > or = 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) without micro- or macroalbuminuria were analyzed to determine the association between BMI and elevated serum cystatin C. Normal weight, overweight, class I obesity, and class II to III obesity were defined as a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2), 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m(2), 30.0 to 34.9 kg/m(2), and > or = 35.0 kg/m(2), respectively. Elevated serum cystatin C was defined as > or = 1.09 mg/L (> or = 99th percentile for participants 20-39 years of age without diabetes, hypertension, micro- or macroalbuminuria, or stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease). RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of elevated serum cystatin C was 9.6%, 12.9%, 17.4%, and 21.5% among adults of normal weight, overweight, class I obesity, and class II to III obesity, respectively (P trend < .001). After multivariate adjustment for demographics, behaviors, systolic blood pressure, and serum biomarkers, and compared with participants of normal weight, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of elevated serum cystatin C was 1.46 (1.02-2.10) for overweight, 2.36 (1.56-3.57) for class I obesity, and 2.82 (1.56-5.11) for class II to III obesity. CONCLUSION: A graded association exists between higher BMI and elevated serum cystatin C. Further research is warranted to assess whether reducing BMI favorably affects elevated serum cystatin C and the development of chronic kidney disease.

To determine whether statin use leads to dietary indiscretion, this longitudinal cohort study examined the impact of statin initiation on saturated fat intake. We interviewed 71 patients who had received a new prescription for statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, first at the time of prescription and then again 3 and 6 months later. Patients were asked about their beliefs regarding diet and medications as well as their diet during the past 24 hours in all interviews and about their adherence to statins in the 3- and 6-month follow-up interviews. At the time of statin prescription, 54 participants (76 percent) wanted to reduce dietary fat, 50 (70 percent) believed statin use could cure their hyperlipidemia, and 31 (44 percent) thought that physicians prescribed statins to them despite their preference to continue to try dietary changes. After 6 months of statin use, no significant change in saturated fat intake was noted