Lower Non-HDL-C Threshold May Help Identify Metabolic Risk Among Youth With Obesity

Adolescents and young adults with obesity who have elevated levels of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) are twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2019. 

“Among youth with obesity, elevated non-HDL-C was associated with a 2-fold greater odds of [metabolic syndrome], but the association was similar for a non-HDL-C of ≥120 mg/dL or ≥145 mg/dL,” the authors wrote.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, READ MORE...

Cardiac Biomarkers May Predict Risk of CV Mortality, HF Hospitalization

5 Questions About New Therapies for Mitral Valve Disease

To evaluate this association among youth with obesity, the researchers identified 11,697 individuals aged 12 to 23 years with obesity from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2003-2014. These participants had complete fasting laboratory data for non-HDL-C and met the components of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition of metabolic syndrome.

The researchers calculated the odds ratios (ORs) for the established non-HDL-C cutoffs of 120 mg/dL or greater and 145 mg/dL or greater for the outcome of metabolic syndrome. They also assessed the receiver operating characteristic, as well as area under the curve (AUC), for metabolic syndrome components and non-HDL-C cutoffs for metabolic syndrome outcome.

Overall, 2485 of the identified participants met the body mass index criteria for obesity. Of these participants, 985 had laboratory data for assessing IDF metabolic syndrome criteria and non-HDL-C.

The crude OR for a non-HDL-C cutoff of 120 mg/dL or greater vs non-HDL-C less than 120 mg/dL was 2.56. The crude OR for a non-HDL-C cutoff of 145 mg/dL or greater vs non-HDL-C less than 145 mg/dL was 2.38.

The crude AUC for a non-HDL-C cutoff of 120 mg/dL or greater was 0.63, and the crude AUC for a non-HDL-C cutoff of 145 mg/dL or greater was 0.58.

“These data suggest that a lower non-HDL-C [of 120 mg/dL or greater] may be useful for identifying greater metabolic risk among youth who are already obese,” the study authors concluded.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

English CW, Sokal-Gutierrez K. Non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol association with metabolic syndrome in obese adolescents and young adults: evaluation using NHANES 2003-2014 year-cycles. Paper presented at the American Heart Association’s 2019 Scientific Sessions; November 16-18, 2019; Philadelphia, PA. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/7891/presentation/27706. Accessed November 25, 2019.