BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (Apr 2025)
LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Abstract Background Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia, particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, plays a critical role in its pathogenesis. Although extensive research has been conducted in Western populations, the relationship between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and atherosclerosis in the Japanese population remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and atherosclerosis, as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), in a Japanese cohort. Methods This secondary analysis used data from a cross-sectional study involving 912 participants. LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was calculated from fasting blood samples and baPWV was used to assess atherosclerosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and other potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore variations by demographic and clinical factors. Results The mean age of the study population was 51.1 years, and 64.9% were male. Significant differences were observed across LDL-C/HDL-C ratio tertiles for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, liver enzymes, lipid profiles and lifestyle factors (p 0.05). Conclusions LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is significantly associated with atherosclerosis in the Japanese population, with varying strength in different demographic and clinical subgroups. These findings highlight the importance of LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis and underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage cardiovascular risk in this population. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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