Hyperlipidemias and Inflammation Independently and Synergistically Raise CVD Risk

A UK longitudinal associations study revealed that hyperlipidemias and inflammation independently and together raise the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The risk is more closely tied to the actual blood levels of these markers than to the use or not of cholesterol-lowering medication. Data were from 322,922 participants (55.9% women) aged 38 to 73 years with a median follow-up of 13.7 years. Higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] were linked to a greater chance of major CVD events. Elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), markers associated with inflammation, also increased risk. Even among those taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, higher levels of these markers were associated with increased CVD risk. Individuals with high levels of all three markers—LDL cholesterol, Lp(a), and hs-CRP—faced a significantly higher CVD risk compared to those with lower levels. This study underscores the importance of monitoring and managing the markers to reduce the CVD risk. Source: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/