Determinants and clinical significance of plasma oxidized LDLs in older individuals. A 9 years follow-up study

Giovanni Zuliani, Mario Luca Morieri, Stefano Volpato, Giovanni B. Vigna, Cristina Bosi Tch, Marcello Maggio, Antonio Cherubini, Stefania Bandinelli, Jack M. Guralnik, Luigi Ferrucci

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oxidized LDLs (ox.LDLs) uptake by macrophages inside the arterial wall is a crucial step in atherosclerotic disease, and some studies suggest that high ox.LDLs plasma levels might be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, whether high ox.LDLs continue to be a CVD risk factors in older persons is unknown. We investigated the clinical correlates of plasma ox.LDLs, and their role in predicting long-term CVD/cardiac mortality in 1025 older community dwelling individuals (mean age: 75.5 ± 7.4 years; females: 55%) from the InCHIANTI study. Kaplan-Meier curves were fitted to explore the relationship between tertiles of ox.LDLs (ox.LDL/LDL-C ratio) and time to CVD/cardiac death. Hazard Ratios (HR) were estimated by Cox regression analysis.At multivariate analysis, ox.LDLs were independently associated with LDL-C, triglycerides, and HDL-C (adjusted r2: 0.42; P = 0.001). The ox.LDL/LDL-C ratio (the extent of LDLs oxidation) was independently correlated with HDL-C, triglycerides, and beta-carotene (adjusted r2: 0.15, P = 0.001). Among 1025 individuals, 392 died after 9 years, 166 from CVD. The HR for CVD/cardiac mortality was not significantly different across tertiles of ox.LDLs or ox.LDL/LDL-C ratio, both in the whole sample and in individuals with prevalent CVD.We conclude that in an elderly population LDL-C, triglycerides, and HDL-C are the most important determinants of ox.LDLs levels, indirectly suggesting an association between small dense LDLs and LDLs oxidation. No association emerged between higher ox.LDLs levels and 9 years CVD/cardiac mortality, suggesting that in advanced age the prognostic information added by ox.LDLs on CVD/cardiac mortality might be negligible.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)201-207
Number of pages7
JournalAtherosclerosis
Volume226
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Mortality
  • Oxidized LDL

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Determinants and clinical significance of plasma oxidized LDLs in older individuals. A 9 years follow-up study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this