Genetically predicted high BP and LDL-C increase risk of CHD independent of age

The impact of blood pressure and cholesterol levels on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk across different life stages has always been a subject of uncertainty. A recent study by the Nelson Wang and team utilized data from the UK Biobank and looked into the long term implications of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on CHD risk. The findings of the study were published in PloS One.

The study included 136,648 participants for LDL-C, 135,431 for SBP, and 24,052 CHD cases. The study assessed the duration of exposure to these risk factors on CHD risk. Univariable analyses revealed a consistent association between higher LDL-C and SBP and increased odds of incident CHD in individuals aged ≤55, ≤60, and ≤65 years after stratified by age at enrollment. Importantly, multivariable MR analyses demonstrated that exposure to elevated LDL-C/SBP in early life (≤55 years) was independently associated with a higher CHD risk, irrespective of later-life levels (age >55 years) (odds ratio 1.68, 95% CI 1.20–2.34 per 1 mmol/L LDL-C, and odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI 1.18–1.51 per 10 mmHg SBP).

The findings highlight a crucial connection between genetically predicted SBP/LDL-C and CHD risk, transcending age. Independently of later-life levels, increased SBP and LDL-C in early to middle life emerged as potent contributors to increased CHD risk. This highlights the significance of lifelong control of these risk factors, specially in younger individuals with the risk of CHD accumulating throughout life. The study illuminates a pivotal aspect of cardiovascular health by emphasizing the need for early interventions and sustained efforts in managing these modifiable risk factors to reduce the lifelong burden of coronary heart disease.

Source:

Wang, N., Mustafa, R., Zuber, V., Rodgers, A., & Dehghan, A. (2023). Association between systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with coronary heart disease according to age. PloS One, 18(12), e0295004. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295004