| For medical practitioners and the general public - Cholesterol Journal Article Catalog. |
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| Serum cholesterol in young men and cardiovascular disease Corvilain, B., J. Matte, et al. (1993), N Engl J Med 329(2): 138. |
| Serum cholesterol in young men and subsequent cardiovascular disease Klag, M. J., D. E. Ford, et al. (1993), N Engl J Med 328(5): 313-8. Abstract: BACKGROUND. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with higher serum cholesterol levels in middle-aged persons has been clearly established, but there have been few opportunities to examine a potential link between serum cholesterol levels measured in young men and clinically evident premature cardiovascular disease later in life. METHODS. We performed a prospective study of 1017 young men (mean age, 22 years) followed for 27 to 42 years to quantify the risk of cardiovascular disease and total mortality associated with serum cholesterol levels during early adult life. The mean serum cholesterol level at entry was 192 mg per deciliter (5.0 mmol per liter). RESULTS. During a median follow-up of 30.5 years, there were 125 cardiovascular-disease events, 97 of which were due to coronary heart disease. The serum cholesterol level at base line was strongly associated with the incidence of events related to coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease, as well as to total mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. The risks were similar whether the events occurred before or after the age of 50. In a proportional-hazards analysis adjusted for age, body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters), the level of physical activity, coffee intake, change in smoking status, and the incidence of diabetes and hypertension during follow-up, a difference in the serum cholesterol level at base line of 36 mg per deciliter (0.9 mmol per liter)--the difference between the 25th and 75th percentiles of cholesterol level in the study population at base line--was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (relative risk, 1.72; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.39 to 2.14), coronary heart disease (relative risk, 2.01; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.59 to 2.53), and mortality due to cardiovascular disease (relative risk, 2.02; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.23 to 3.32). A difference in the base-line serum cholesterol level of 36 mg per deciliter was significantly associated with an increased risk of death before the age of 50 (relative risk, 1.64; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.03 to 2.61), but not with the overall risk of death (relative risk, 1.21; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.93 to 1.58). CONCLUSIONS. These findings indicate a strong association between the serum cholesterol level measured early in adult life in men and cardiovascular disease in midlife. |
| Serum cholesterol increase in a middle-aged male industrial population during ten years (1976-1986) and general food consumption changes in Czechoslovakia Simon, J., H. Rosolova, et al. (1991), Cor Vasa 33(2): 132-8. Abstract: The authors evaluate the coronary risk factor changes in middle-aged men from the point of view of changed nutritional habits of the whole population (yearly per capita consumption of different food). They compared 3,754 men aged 40-50 years when screened in 1976-77 (Skoda I Study) and 568 men aged 40-50 years when screened in 1986-88 (Skoda II Study). During the 10-year period, a significant decrease of smoking habits was observed, hypertension prevalence remained unchanged and hypercholesterolaemia prevalence increased significantly. The estimated yearly per capita consumption of meat and fat remained unchanged in the years 1975-1985, however, the structure of consumption revealed a gradual change towards food containing high amounts of animal fat. Education efforts during the 10-year period (1976-1986) led to a decrease in smoking habits in middle-aged men leaving hypertension control unchanged. The observed increase of cholesterol levels may be attributed to inappropriate nutritional habits gradually worsening in the whole population probably due to a socio-economic depression. |
| Serum cholesterol is a risk factor for myocardial infarction in elderly men and women: the Rotterdam Study Houterman, S., W. M. Verschuren, et al. (1999), J Intern Med 246(1): 25-33. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of serum total and HDL cholesterol with the risk of myocardial infarction in men and women of 55 years and over. DESIGN: The Rotterdam Study is a population-based prospective cohort study. In total 2453 men and 3553 women of 55 years and older were included in this study. The mean duration of follow-up was 4 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative risks were estimated with Cox's proportional-hazard analysis. Cholesterol was analysed as a continuous variable and in sex-specific quartiles. RESULTS: In subjects aged 55 years and older the relative risk of myocardial infarction was 1.9 in men (95% confidence interval 1.1-3.3) and 3.2 in women (1.5-6.4) in the highest compared to the lowest serum total cholesterol quartile (Q4 vs. Q1). In men and women of 70 years and older, total cholesterol remained an important risk factor for myocardial infarction (Q4 vs. Q1 relative risk 3.2; 1.3-7.7 and 2.9; 1.3-6.6, respectively). For HDL cholesterol, the relative risk in the highest compared to the lowest quartile (Q4 vs. Q1) was 0.5 in men (0.3-0.9) and 0.4 in women (0.2-0.9). HDL cholesterol was a weaker predictor in men after the age of 70 (Q4 vs. Q1 0.8; 0.3-2.1). In women of 70 years and older the relative risk was also not significant (Q4 vs. Q1 0.6; 0.3-1.3), although the trend over the quartiles was still significant. CONCLUSION: Serum total cholesterol remains an important risk factor for myocardial infarction in men and women aged 70 years and older, whilst HDL cholesterol at older age remains important in women only. |
| Serum cholesterol is elevated in patients with Achilles tendon ruptures Mathiak, G., J. V. Wening, et al. (1999), Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 119(5-6): 280-4. Abstract: Forty-one patients were analyzed after surgical treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures. The following parameters served as the outcome measure: (1) duration of wearing cast, (2) length of hospital stay, (3) outpatient treatment, (4) time of absence from work, (5) complications, (6) re-rupture rate, (7) subjective evaluation by patients, (8) scar condition, (9) ability to stand on tiptoes, (10) Thompson test, (11) movement of talocrural joint, (12) circumference data of lower extremity, (13) radiographs, (14) power measurement of the ankle (in kg), (15) ultrasound examination, (16) blood cholesterol levels, (17) scoring by Trillat's score. Surgical treatment achieved an excellent or good outcome in 91% of patients as evidenced by the Trillat score. Furthermore, cholesterol levels were found to be elevated in 83% of patients. Given the good results, surgical treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures is recommended, but patients of status post-Achilles tendon rupture should be checked for high cholesterol levels. In the future, controlled, prospective trials need to prove a correlation between Achilles tendon rupture and a pathological blood lipid status. |
| Serum cholesterol level and food intake in old persons in Tottori prefecture Nagayama, I. (1993), Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi 40(9): 901-8. |
| Serum cholesterol level and hepatoma Chen, M. C., M. R. Mullane, et al. (1990), Jama 264(16): 2071-2. |
| Serum cholesterol level and mortality due to suicide and trauma in the Honolulu Heart Program Iribarren, C., D. M. Reed, et al. (1995), Arch Intern Med 155(7): 695-700. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recent results from cholesterol level-lowering trials and some, but not all, observational studies support an intriguing link between low or lowered serum cholesterol levels and violent death. The reasons behind this relationship are far from clear. METHODS: In this report, we further investigate this issue by assessing the relationship of baseline serum cholesterol levels with long-term risk of mortality due to trauma and suicide in a cohort of 7309 middle-aged Japanese-American men. RESULTS: After 23 years of follow-up, a total of 75 traumatic fatalities and 24 deaths by suicide were documented. Rather than an inverse relation, a positive association between serum cholesterol level and risk of suicide death was observed. After controlling for potential confounders, the relative risk of suicide associated with an increment of 0.98 mmol/L (38 mg/dL) in serum cholesterol level (1 SD) was 1.46 (95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 2.05; P =.02). Multivariate analysis of traumatic mortality failed to detect a relation with serum cholesterol level (relative risk = 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.70 to 1.13; P =.44). Heavy alcohol consumption (> 1200 mL of alcohol per month, top quintile) was an independent risk factor for trauma death relative to abstinence (relative risk = 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 3.22; P =.02). CONCLUSIONS: These findings contradict the hypothesis of an inverse relation between serum cholesterol level and suicide, but they support the hypothesis that heavy alcohol consumption is a risk factor for traumatic fatal events. |
| Serum cholesterol level and mortality findings for men screened in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial Research Group Neaton, J. D., H. Blackburn, et al. (1992), Arch Intern Med 152(7): 1490-500. Abstract: BACKGROUND--With increased efforts to lower serum cholesterol levels, it is important to quantify associations between serum cholesterol level and causes of death other than coronary heart disease, for which an etiologic relationship has been established. METHODS--For an average of 12 years, 350,977 men aged 35 to 57 years who had been screened for the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial were followed up following a single standardized measurement of serum cholesterol level and other coronary heart disease risk factors; 21,499 deaths were identified. RESULTS--A strong, positive, graded relationship was evident between serum cholesterol level measured at initial screening and death from coronary heart disease. This relationship persisted over the 12-year follow-up period. No association was noted between serum cholesterol level and stroke. The absence of an association overall was due to different relationships of serum cholesterol level with intracranial hemorrhage and nonhemorrhagic stroke. For the latter, a positive, graded association with serum cholesterol level was evident. For intracranial hemorrhage, cholesterol levels less than 4.14 mmol/L (less than 160 mg/dL) were associated with a twofold increase in risk. A serum cholesterol level less than 4.14 mmol/L (less than 160 mg/dL) was also associated with a significantly increased risk of death from cancer of the liver and pancreas; digestive diseases, particularly hepatic cirrhosis; suicide; and alcohol dependence syndrome. In addition, significant inverse graded associations were found between serum cholesterol level and cancers of the lung, lymphatic, and hematopoietic systems, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. No significant associations were found of serum cholesterol level with death from colon cancer, with accidental deaths, or with homicides. Overall, the inverse association between serum cholesterol level and most cancers weakened with increasing follow-up but did not disappear. The association between cholesterol level and death due to cancer of the lung and liver, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cirrhosis, and suicide weakened little over follow-up. CONCLUSIONS--The association of serum cholesterol with specific causes of death varies in direction, strength, gradation, and persistence. Further research on the determinants of low serum cholesterol level in populations and long-term follow-up of participants in clinical trials are necessary to assess whether inverse associations with noncardiovascular disease causes of death are consequences of noncardiovascular disease, whether serum cholesterol level and noncardiovascular disease are both consequences of other factors, or whether these associations are causal. |
| Serum cholesterol level as an indicator of allograft liver function Cho, W. H., I. H. Kim, et al. (1996), Transplant Proc 28(3): 1671-2. |
| Serum cholesterol level comparison: control subjects, anxiety disorder patients, and obsessive-compulsive disorder patients Peter, H., I. Hand, et al. (2002), Can J Psychiatry 47(6): 557-61. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine whether panic disorder is associated with elevated serum cholesterol levels. Serum cholesterol levels of panic disorder patients are reported to be elevated. This could explain the higher-than-expected cardiovascular mortality in this population. Some evidence exists wherein cholesterol levels are also increased in patients with general anxiety disorder and phobias. To date, there are only 2 reports on cholesterol levels of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, giving controversial results. METHOD: We compared serum cholesterol levels of anxiety disorder patients, OCD patients, and normal control subjects with each other (n = 60 in each group). Serum cholesterol was measured in each subject before treatment. Subjects of the 3 groups were matched by age and sex. RESULTS: Patients with anxiety disorders and OCD had elevated cholesterol levels, compared with normal control subjects. Cholesterol levels in OCD patients were comparable with those in patients with phobia. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the assumption that elevation in cholesterol level is not a specific feature of panic disorder (as most assumed), but more generally associated with anxiety disorders. Increased cholesterol levels in patients with anxiety disorders and OCD may be of clinical relevance. |
| Serum cholesterol level in a typical suburban commercial community in Nigeria Ahaneku, J. E., J. C. Ndefo, et al. (1996), Experientia 52(7): 680-2. Abstract: Forty-one apparently healthy businessmen and -women and an equal number of government workers matched for age and sex underwent serum cholesterol determinations. The mean serum cholesterol levels of businessmen and -women were significantly higher than those of their government worker counterparts (p < 0.001). The marked increase in the serum cholesterol of the business subjects was attributed to their overindulgence and/or eating habits and lack of physical activity. The cardiovascular risk implications of the high cholesterol value and other risk co-factors such as obesity and alcoholism observed among the business subjects are highlighted. We advise that for communities similar to the one described here, public enlightenment programmes about the health benefits of periodic medical assessment and recreational physical activities are necessary. A further comprehensive study of lipid, lipoprotein and other risk factors in these subjects should be encouraged. |
| Serum cholesterol level, body mass index, and the risk of colon cancer. The Framingham Study Kreger, B. E., K. M. Anderson, et al. (1992), Cancer 70(5): 1038-43. Abstract: BACKGROUND. Some studies have linked low serum cholesterol levels to increased risk of colon cancer, particularly in men. Results have been inconsistent, with preclinical disease frequently offered to explain any apparent association. METHODS. The Framingham Study cohort of 5209 persons, initially 30-62 years of age and observed more than 30 years, was evaluated. Baseline data included lipoprotein fractions, total cholesterol levels, body mass index, alcohol intake, and cardiovascular risk variables such as cigarette smoking, hypertension, and glucose intolerance. RESULTS. In this population, colon cancer in men is related inversely to serum cholesterol levels, even when the first 10 years of follow-up are eliminated to reduce the effect of preclinical disease. This effect is concentrated in the Svedberg 0-20 fraction, corresponding to low-density lipoprotein levels. Another finding only in men is the direct relation of body mass index to colon cancer incidence. CONCLUSIONS. Combined initial low serum cholesterol levels and obesity appear to indicate a four times greater risk for colon cancer in men as compared with people with average values of both variables. The reasons for these observations are unknown. |
| Serum cholesterol level, cigarette smoking, and vasomotor responses to L-arginine in narrowed epicardial coronary arteries Tentolouris, C., D. Tousoulis, et al. (2000), Am J Cardiol 85(4): 500-3, A11. Abstract: We examined the impact of serum cholesterol and cigarette smoking on the coronary vasomotor effects of L-arginine in patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The dilation of proximal and distal segments in response to low-dose L-arginine was greater in patients with a serum cholesterol level < or =200 mg/dl than in patients with a level >200 mg/dl, whereas the response was the same in smokers and nonsmokers. |
| Serum cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis Sharrett, A. R. (1993), Coron Artery Dis 4(10): 867-70. |
| Serum cholesterol levels and cancer. A research dilemma Tornberg, S. A. (1991), Ann Med 23(2): 93-4. |
| Serum cholesterol levels and cognitive function assessed by P300 latencies in an older population living in the community Wada, T., K. Matsubayashi, et al. (1997), J Am Geriatr Soc 45(1): 122-3. |
| Serum cholesterol levels and frequency of aggression Spitz, R. T., M. Hillbrand, et al. (1994), Psychol Rep 74(2): 622. Abstract: Analysis of serum cholesterol levels of 106 male forensic patients showed significant differences in frequency of aggression, with low cholesterol levels predominant among those more frequently violent. |
| Serum cholesterol levels and in-hospital mortality in the elderly Onder, G., F. Landi, et al. (2003), Am J Med 115(4): 265-71. Abstract: PURPOSE: Although total cholesterol levels among middle-aged persons correlate with long-term mortality from all causes, this association remains controversial in older persons. We explored whether total cholesterol levels were independently associated with in-hospital mortality among elderly patients. METHODS: We analyzed data from a large collaborative observational study, the Italian Group of Pharmacoepidemiology in the Elderly (GIFA), which collected data on hospitalized patients. A total of 6984 patients aged 65 years or older who had been admitted to 81 participating medical centers during four survey periods (from 1993 to 1998) were enrolled. Patients were divided into four groups based on total cholesterol levels at hospital admission: <160 mg/dL (n = 2115), 160 to 199 mg/dL (n = 2210), 200 to 239 mg/dL (n = 1719), and >or=240 mg/dL (n = 940). RESULTS: Patients (mean +/- SD age, 78 +/- 7 years) were hospitalized for an average of 15 +/- 10 days. The mean total cholesterol level was 186 +/- 49 mg/dL. A total of 202 patients died during hospitalization. Mortality was inversely related to cholesterol levels (<160 mg/dL: 5.2% 110/2115; 160-199 mg/dL: 2.2% 49/2210; 200-239 mg/dL: 1.6% 27/1719; and >or=240 mg/dL: 1.7% 16/940; P for linear trend <0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders (demographic characteristics, smoking, alcohol use, indicators of nutritional status, markers of frailty, and comorbid conditions), low cholesterol levels continued to be associated with in-hospital mortality. Compared with patients who had cholesterol levels <160 mg/dL, the odds ratios for in-hospital mortality were 0.49 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.34 to 0.70) for participants with cholesterol levels of 160 to 199 mg/dL, 0.41 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.65) for those with cholesterol levels of 200 to 239 mg/dL, and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.32 to 0.98) for those with cholesterol levels >or=240 mg/dL. These estimates were similar after further adjustment for inflammatory markers and after excluding patients with liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Among older hospitalized adults, low serum cholesterol levels appear to be an independent predictor of short-term mortality. |
| Serum cholesterol levels and kidney transplantation outcome: attenuation of cyclosporine efficacy? Hirano, T., T. Akashi, et al. (2001), Transplantation 71(5): 659-60. |