Association Between Xanthelasma Palpebrarum with Cardiovascular Risk and Dyslipidemia: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is associated with dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other systemic conditions in a large population.

Design: Case-control study conducted at a single tertiary care center.

Participants: Individuals who were examined at a medical screening institute from 2001 through 2020.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed to extract data on ophthalmic evaluations, blood test results, and systemic diagnoses. Patients identified with XP in at least 1 eye constituted the study group. A control group without XP was established matched by age and sex at a 10:1 ratio to allow robust statistical analysis.

Main outcome measures: Associations between XP and dyslipidemia and CVD were determined. Lipid profiles and diagnoses of dyslipidemia and CVD were compared between the case and control groups.

Results: The database included 35 452 individuals, 24 287 of whom were male (69%), with a mean ± standard deviation age of 52.2 ± 12.2 years. The study population included 203 patients with XP (0.6%) and 2030 matched control participants. The prevalence of dyslipidemia diagnosis was similar between the two groups (42% XP vs. 46% controls, P = 0.29), as were the use rates of statins, fibrates, or other cholesterol-lowering medications (48% XP vs. 47% controls, P = 0.88). Lipid profiles were similar between the groups, including total cholesterol (controls median 187 [IQR, 163-211] vs. XP 192 [166-215], P = 0.093), high-density lipoprotein (controls median 48 [IQR, 41-57] vs. XP 47 [42-57], P = 0.65), low-density lipoprotein (controls median 120 [101-141] vs. XP 125 [104-145], P = 0.17), and triglyceride levels (controls median 111 [81-152] vs. XP 105 [81-139], P = 0.16). The rate of CVD was similar as well (10% control group vs. 8.9% XP group; P = 0.56). The prevalences of related conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and history of cerebrovascular accident, were similar between groups (24% control group vs. 23% XP group, 14% control group vs. 10% XP group, and 1.3% control group vs. 1% XP group, respectively; P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Xanthelasma palpebrarum was not associated with increased rates of dyslipidemia or CVD. This questions the extent to which XP serves as an indicative marker for heightened systemic risk.

Financial disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Keywords: Blood tests; Cardiovascular risks; Hyperlipidemia; Systemic illness; Xanthelasma.