Association of hypertriglyceridemia with risk factors for cardiovascular and renal complications in individuals with high cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Aim. To study clinical and functional manifestations of hypertriglyceridemia and its association with risk factors for cardiovascular and renal complications in individuals with high cardiovascular risk.Material and methods. The study included 272 patients (129 men and 143 women; mean age, 53,9±13,7 years) with a high cardiovascular risk, which was stratified using Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) model by the presence of cardiovascular disease, and/or diabetes, and/or age ≥65 years, and/or blood pressure (BP) >180/110 mm Hg, and/or total cholesterol (TC) level >8,0 mmol/l. All study participants underwent clinical and paraclinical examination. Serum content of triglycerides (TGs) ≥1,7 mmol/L was considered hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Depending on TG level, the entire sample was divided into 2 following subgroups: subgroup 1 (n=178) — serum triglycerides ≤1,6 mmol/l; subgroup 2 (n=94) — serum triglycerides ≥1,7 mmol/l, i.e. HTG.Results. We revealed significantly more persons with obesity (46,8%) and type 2 diabetes (28,7%) in HTG subgroup. There were 56,3% and 36,1% patients of HTG subgroup with hypertension (HTN) and coronary artery disease (CAD), respectively. A mid-high TG level (from 1,7 to 2,3 mmol/l) in the subgroup of patients with HTG was detected in 38,3% of cases. The serum content of TG from 2,3 to 5,6 mmol/l was detected in 54,2% of patients. TG level ≥5,6 mmol/l was detected in 7,5% of cases. In the subgroup of patients with HTG, high levels of systolic, diastolic and central (aortic) BP, body mass index, phosphorus, creatinine, cystatin C, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were detected significantly more common. In the general sample, a significant direct relationship between TG concentration and cystatin C (r=0,168) and an inverse (negative) relationship with eGFR (r=-0,220) was obtained.Conclusion. Elevated serum TG levels are often observed in individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and CAD. Patients with HTG had a pronounced cardiovascular and renal risk, including a significant increase in BP and carotid IMT, high levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, phosphorus, creatinine, cystatin C, and a decrease in eGFR. HTG was associated with an increase in serum cystatin C and a deterioration in renal nitrogen excretion.