Relationship Between Non-fasting Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in a 20-year Follow-up Study of a Japanese General Population: NIPPON DATA90

Abstract

Background: Non-fasting triglycerides (TG) are considered a better predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than fasting TG. However, the effect of non-fasting TG on fatal CVD events remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the relationship between non-fasting TG and CVD mortality in a Japanese general population.

Methods: A total of 6,831 participants without a history of CVD, in which those who had a blood sampling over 8 hours or more after a meal were excluded, were followed for 18.0 years. We divided participants into seven groups according to non-fasting TG levels: ≤59 mg/dL, 60-89 mg/dL, 90-119 mg/dL, 120-149 mg/dL, 150-179 mg/dL, 180-209 mg/dL, and ≥210 mg/dL, and estimated the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of each TG group for CVD mortality after adjusting for potential confounders, including high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Additionally, we performed analysis stratified by age <65 and ≥65 years.

Results: During the follow-up period, 433 deaths due to CVD were detected. Compared with a non-fasting TG of 150-179 mg/dL, non-fasting TG ≥210 mg/dL was significantly associated with increased risk for CVD mortality (HR 1.56: 95% CI, 1.01-2.41). Additionally, lower levels of non-fasting TG were also significantly associated with increased risk for fatal CVD. In participants aged ≥65 years, lower levels of non-fasting TG had a stronger impact on increased risk for CVD mortality, while higher levels of non-fasting TG had a stronger impact in those aged <65 years.

Conclusion: In a general Japanese population, we observed a U-shaped association between non-fasting TG and fatal CVD events.

Keywords: Japan; cardiovascular disease; general population; mortality; non-fasting triglyceride.

Figure 1.. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of non-fasting triglyceride levels for CVD mortality in all participants and in those aged <65 and ≥65 years. Adjusted variables were age, body mass index, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, and alcohol drinking status. Non-fasting TG of 150 mg/dL was used as a reference with restricted range of non-fasting TG levels ≤300 mg/dL. CVD, cardiovascular disease; TG, triglyceride.