A U-Shaped Association between LDL-C/HDL-C Ratio and all-Cause Mortality in Elderly Hypertensive Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study
Abstract Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratio is an excellent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies linking LDL-C/HDL-C ratio to mortality have been inconsistent and limited by short follow-up. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine whether LDL-C/HDL-C ratio could be an effective predictor of all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensive patients.Methods: We selected 6,941 hypertensive patients aged 65 years or older and untreated with lipid-lowering drugs from the Chinese Hypertension Registry for analysis. The endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality. The relationship between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and all-cause mortality by using multivariate cox proportional hazards regression, smoothing curve fitting (penalized spline method), subgroup analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival curve to address.Results: During a median follow-up of 1.72 years, 157 all-cause deaths occurred. A U-shaped association was found between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and all-cause mortality. The LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was divided into five groups according to quintiles. Compared to the reference group (Q3: 1.67-2.10), both lower (Q1 and Q2) and higher (Q4 and Q5) LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were associated with higher all-cause mortality (<1.67: HR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.08-3.03; ≥2.10: HR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.18-3.39). Compare with lower and higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratio groups, patients with LDL-C/HDL-C ratio of 1.67-2.10 had a significant higher survival probability (log-rank P = 0.038).Conclusion: Our results suggested that there was a U-shaped association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and all-cause mortality. Both lower and higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were associated with increased all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensive patients.