"Good cholesterol" can be used to predict the risk of heart disease and stroke

  High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been called "good cholesterol" for decades because it can remove fat and other cholesterol molecules from the walls of arteries. Studies have shown that people with higher HDL cholesterol levels have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease.

  Currently, scientists at UT Southwestern University are analyzing data from more than 15,000 people to better understand the relationship between HDL cholesterol, heart attack and stroke in different populations. They found that the number of HDL particles (a measure of HDL that is rarely used) can predict the risk of heart attack and stroke more reliably than standard HDL cholesterol indicators. In addition, they found that among blacks, high-density lipoprotein levels were not significantly related to heart attacks. according to

  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In the United States, more than 12% of adults have higher total cholesterol levels, and more than 18% of adults currently have lower HDL cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is used by the body to produce hormones and keep cells functioning normally. However, if low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels are too high, cholesterol can accumulate in blood vessels and form deposits called plaques. These plaques eventually block blood vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes. HDL cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from blood vessels. However, recent studies have reached new conclusions about the relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and health outcomes.

  Ohatgi and his colleagues participated in four large national studies: Dallas Heart Study, Regional Atherosclerosis Risk Study, Atherosclerosis Multiethnic Study and Renal Vascular Prevention. Collect information from the people who did it. Advanced disease research. A total of 15,784 study subjects received an average of 8 to 12 years of follow-up. Among the participants, 54% were males, 22% were blacks, and the average age was 56 years.

  In addition, the data also contains two different indicators of HDL. HDL-P, the number of HDL particles in the blood. HDL-C, the total amount of cholesterol in HDL particles.

  In this study, compared with the lowest HDL-P, the highest HDL-P is higher than 37 mmol/L, the risk of heart attack is reduced by 37%, and the risk of stroke is reduced by 34%. completed. In women, this is even more relevant, with women with the highest HDL-P levels having 49% fewer heart attacks and 46% fewer strokes. HDL-C can predict the risk of heart disease for the entire population and women, but has nothing to do with stroke. Researchers need to better understand how HDL helps predict disease and how this association can change the population and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.