This Mendelian randomization study including more than 900,000 subjects showed a robust genetic causal association between remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular outcomes.
| STUDY SUMMARY | ||||||||||
| Objective: | To investigate the causal role of remnant cholesterol to predict coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke risk. | |||||||||
| Study design: | Mendelian randomization study | |||||||||
| Study population: | Data from a combined sample of 958 434 subjects in the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium (Coronary Artery Disease Genome-Wide Replication and Meta-Analysis Plus the Coronary Artery Disease Genetics), the Metastroke consortium, and the GLGC (Global Lipids Genetics Consortium). | |||||||||
| Primary variable: | • Cardiovascular outcomes, defined as CAD, MI and stroke | |||||||||
| Methods: | This study used single-nucleotide polymorphisms for remnant cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as genetic instruments to evaluate the association between these lipids and cardiovascular outcomes. | |||||||||
| Main results: | There was a significant causal effect of remnant cholesterol on the risk of CAD, MI and stroke with no evidence of pleiotropy. For each 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in remnant cholesterol, there was a more than 50% increase in the risk for CAD or MI, and this effect was independent of the effect of LDL-C.
Additionally, the study showed that lifelong low remnant cholesterol levels associated with genetic inhibition of remnant cholesterol led to a 40% relative reduction in MI risk.
Table 1. Effect on cardiovascular outcomes per 1 SD increase in remnant cholesterol
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| Authors’ conclusion: | This large-scale Mendelian randomization study showed a robust genetic causal association between remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular outcomes. The effect on CAD and MI is independent of LDL cholesterol. Early screening for remnant cholesterol along with long-term inhibition of remnant cholesterol should be the focus of future therapeutic interventions. | |||||||||
COMMENT
This study adds to accumulating evidence for a causal association between elevated remnant cholesterol, the cholesterol contained within triglyceride-rich remnant lipoprotein particles, and cardiovascular outcomes. Previous observational and genetic data from the Copenhagen General Population Study and the Copenhagen Ischemic Heart Disease Study showed that per 1 mmol/L increase, non-fasting remnant cholesterol was associated with a greater increase in risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) outcomes compared with LDL-C (1,2). Additionally, elevated remnant cholesterol associated with elevated mortality risk (3). These data are supported by mechanistic studies which indicated that remnant cholesterol plays an important role in atherosclerosis. The current study adds robust evidence for a genetic causal association between remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular outcomes, with the association for risk of MI or CAD independent of LDL-C.
While the evidence supports remnant cholesterol as a likely causal risk factor for ASCVD, uncertainties persist regarding its measurement and therapeutic approaches (4). For example, calculated remnant cholesterol is dependent on the accuracy of LDL-C measurement (5), and assays for direct measurement of remnant cholesterol require further evaluation (4). Additionally, conflicting results from recent trials have engendered confusion as to how best to target remnant cholesterol therapeutically (6-8). More studies are needed to validate remnant cholesterol measurement and define the most appropriate treatments in high-risk patients.
For the full article: More evidence linking remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular outcomes (r3i.org)