Person:

Akinkuolie, Akintunde

Background: Glycosylated proteins partake in multiple cellular processes including inflammation. We hypothesized that GlycA, a novel biomarker of protein glycan N‐acetyl groups, is related to incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and we compared it with high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP). Methods and Results: In 27 491 initially healthy women, baseline GlycA was quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and hsCRP by an immunoturbidimetric assay. During median follow‐up of 17.2 years, 1648 incident CVD events occurred (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, coronary revascularization, and CVD death). GlycA and hsCRP were moderately correlated (Spearman r=0.61, P<0.0001). In Cox regression models that included age, ethnicity, smoking, blood pressure, medications, menopausal status, body mass index, and diabetes, hazard ratios for CVD across quartiles 1 to 4 of GlycA were 1.00, 1.10 (95% CI, 0.92 to 1.30), 1.34 (95% CI, 1.13 to 1.58), and 1.64 (95% CI, 1.39 to 1.93), similar to hsCRP, for which hazard ratios were 1.00, 1.18 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1.41), 1.35 (95% CI, 1.14 to 1.61), and 1.75 (95% CI, 1.47 to 2.09) (both Ptrend<0.0001). Associations were attenuated after additionally adjusting for lipids: the hazard ratio of quartile 4 versus 1 for GlycA was 1.23 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.46; Ptrend=0.002) and for hsCRP was 1.44 (95% CI, 1.20 to 1.72; Ptrend<0.0001). Further adjustment for the other biomarker resulted in a hazard ratio of quartile 4 versus 1 for GlycA of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.24; Ptrend=0.41) and for hsCRP of 1.29 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.56; Ptrend=0.001). Conclusions: In this prospective study of initially healthy women, baseline GlycA was associated with incident CVD, consistent with a possible role for protein glycans in inflammation and CVD. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http//clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier NCT00000479.

Background: Levels of LDL (low‐density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the population are declining, and increasing attention is being focused on residual lipid‐related pathways of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk beyond LDL cholesterol. Among individuals with low (<130 mg/dL) LDL cholesterol, we undertook detailed profiling of circulating atherogenic lipoproteins in relation to incident cardiovascular disease in 2 populations. Methods and Results: We performed proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify concentrations of LDL and VLDL (very low‐density lipoprotein) particle subclasses in 11 984 JUPITER trial participants (NCT00239681). Adjusted Cox models examined cardiovascular disease risk associated with lipoprotein measures according to treatment allocation. Risk (adjusted hazard ratio [95%CI] per SD increment) among placebo‐allocated participants was associated with total LDL particles (1.19 [1.02, 1.38]) and total VLDL particles (1.21 [1.04, 1.41]), as well as apolipoprotein B, non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, but not LDL‐c. Rosuvastatin reduced LDL measures but had variable effects on triglyceride and VLDL measures. On‐statin levels of the smallest VLDL particle subclass were associated with a 68% per‐SD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.68 [1.28, 2.22]) increase in residual risk—this risk was related to VLDL cholesterol and not triglyceride or larger VLDL particles. There was evidence that residual risk prediction during statin therapy could be significantly improved through the inclusion of key VLDL measures (Harrell C‐index 0.780 versus 0.712; P<0.0001). In an independent, prospective cohort of 4721 individuals referred for cardiac catheterization (CATHGEN), similar patterns of lipoprotein‐related risk were observed. Conclusions: Atherogenic lipoprotein particle concentrations were associated with cardiovascular disease risk when LDL cholesterol was low. VLDL lipoproteins, particularly the smallest remnant subclass, may represent unused targets for risk prediction and potential therapeutic intervention for reducing residual risk. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00239681.

Background: It is uncertain whether pharmacological reductions in very‐low‐density lipoproteins (VLDLs), and their component triglyceride and cholesterol could reduce residual risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events among individuals in whom low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) has been adequately lowered. We examined whether individuals with greater on‐statin reductions in VLDL‐related measures—beyond reductions in LDL‐C—were at further reduced risk of ASCVD. Methods and Results: In 9423 participants in the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention) trial (NCT00239681), at baseline and on statin we measured standard lipids, 400‐MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy‐measured VLDL particle subclasses (small, medium, and large VLDL lipoprotein particle concentration), and total VLDL cholesterol mass. Compared with individuals allocated to placebo, we examined risk of incident ASCVD (N=211) among statin‐allocated participants who achieved minimal (<median) or greater (≥median) marker reductions using adjusted Cox models. On‐statin changes in VLDL‐related markers were only modestly correlated (Spearman r≤0.29) with change in LDL‐C. On‐statin median LDL‐C was 54 mg/dL and triglyceride was 101 mg/dL. Dose‐response reductions in ASCVD risk were observed for greater reductions in LDL‐C, VLDL cholesterol mass, and small VLDL lipoprotein particle concentration; the latter 2 remained significant after incremental adjustment for change in LDL‐C (P≤0.006). Conversely, there was no further risk reduction with greater reductions in triglycerides or large/medium VLDL lipoprotein particle concentration. Conclusions: Pharmacological reduction in small, cholesterol‐enriched, triglyceride‐depleted VLDL was associated with reduction in ASCVD risk. Chemically measured triglycerides may not sufficiently capture risk related to VLDL pathways. These findings also support broader profiling of lipid and lipoprotein changes in response to statins as prognostic markers of individual benefit, supporting more precision‐medicine, individualized approaches to cardiovascular risk reduction. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00239681.