Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) or carotid plaque has become one of the subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. Different lipids may play different roles in atherosclerosis. However, there are a few studies with a small sample size on the contribution of different lipids to CIMT or carotid plaque, and the conclusions are controversial. METHODS: We included Chinese residents of Chengdu who voluntarily participated in an annual medical check-up at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Demographic data and medical history of subjects were collected. Anthropometry and laboratory indexes, including blood lipids, were measured. Bilateral carotid arteries were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 9,356 cases were included in this study. The prevalence of thickened CIMT and carotid plaque were 9.4% and 17.8%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and NHDL-C/HDL-C were independent risk factors for thickened CIMT, but triglyceride (TG), HDL-C and TC/HDL-C had no significant correlation with thickened CIMT. TC, LDL-C,NHDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were independent risk factors for carotid plaque, but TG, HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C had no significant correlation with carotid plaque. TC, LDL-C, NHDL-C, LDLC/ HDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were positively correlated with CIMT, while TG, HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C were not. DISCUSSION: The correlation between different lipid components and thickened CIMT or carotid plaque are different. TC, LDL-C, NHDL-C,LDL-C/HDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were positively correlated with CIMT, but TG, HDL-C and TC/HDL-C not. TC, LDL-C, NHDL-C and NHDL-C/HDL-C were positively correlated with carotid plaque, but TG, HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C not.