Dyslipidemia Impacts Cardiometabolic Health and CVD Risk in a Relatively Young Otherwise Healthy Population

Abstract

Dyslipidemia, abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream, is associated with cardiovascular disease risk (CVD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dyslipidemia on cardiometabolic health in relatively young, healthy adults. Participants were 54 healthy males and females aged 18-60 years. Participants were assessed for anthropometrics, body composition, blood pressure and vascular stiffness indicators, microvascular health, and glucose and lipid levels. Using a cross-sectional approach, participants were characterized and grouped as having dyslipidemia or not, and then statistically assessed to determine whether differences in other cardiometabolic health measures existed between the groups. There were significant differences between groups for body weight and composition (total mass, muscle mass, visceral fat, bone mass, and body mass index, all, p < 0.027, Cohen's d > 0.605) with the dyslipidemia group being higher. There were significant differences between groups for peripheral and central blood pressures (all, p < 0.003, Cohen's d > 0.899), as well as for vascular stiffness indicators (pulse pressure, augmentation pressure, augmentation index, augmentation index 75) (all, p < 0.022, Cohen's d > 0.672) with elevations noted in the dyslipidemia group. Ten-year CVD risk was significantly different between groups, with an average risk of 0.8% in the normal lipids group and a risk of 5.4% in the dyslipidemia group (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.260). However, there were no significant differences in macro- or micronutrient intake between groups (all, p > 0.166, Cohen's d < 0.412). There is a significant impact on cardiometabolic health in individuals with dyslipidemia who are otherwise healthy, which may increase individual risk for CVD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06544915.

Keywords: hypercholesterolemia; lipid profile; microvascular function; vascular stiffness.

FIGURE 1

Overview of study visit. Created with BioRender.com.

FIGURE 2

Lipid panel measurements in young, healthy individuals with dyslipidemia (“1”, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0”, n = 26). Total cholesterol (Panel A), HDL cholesterol (Panel B), LDL cholesterol (Panel C), triglycerides (Panel D), non‐HDL cholesterol (Panel E), total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL) (Panel F). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohen's d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.

FIGURE 3

Body composition measurements in young, healthy individuals with dyslipidemia (“1”, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0”, n = 26). Waist circumference (Panel A), hip circumference (Panel B), muscle mass (Panel C), visceral fat (Panel D), bone mass (Panel E), and body water (Panel F). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohens d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.

FIGURE 4

Central and peripheral blood pressure measurements in young, healthy individuals with dyslipidemia (“1”, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0”, n = 26). Peripheral systolic blood pressure (pSBP, Panel A), peripheral diastolic blood pressure (pDBP, Panel B), central systolic blood pressure (cSBP, Panel C), central diastolic blood pressure (cDBP, Panel D). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohens d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.

FIGURE 5

Vascular stiffness measurements in young, healthy individuals with dyslipidemia (“1”, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0”, n = 26). Pulse pressure (Panel A), augmentation pressure (panel B), augmentation index (Panel C), and augmentation index 75 (Panel D). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohen's d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.

FIGURE 6

Heart rate variability measurements in young, healthy individuals with dyslipidemia (“1”, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0”, n = 26). Heart rate (Panel A), the root mean square of successive RR interval differences (Panel B), log‐transformed root mean square of successive RR interval differences (Panel C), the standard deviation of NN intervals (Panel D), time between two QRS complexes (RR Interval) (Panel E), percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (Panel F), total power (Panel G), ratio of LF to HF power (Panel H), low‐frequency power (Panel I), high‐frequency power (Panel J), low‐frequency peak (Panel K), and high‐frequency peak (Panel L). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohen's d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.

FIGURE 7

Microvascular health measurements as assessed by the NIRS‐VOT in young, healthy individuals with dyslipidemia (“1”, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0”, n = 26). Slope 1 is the deoxygenation slope representing muscle metabolism (Panel A) and slope 2 represents the reperfusion rate and microvascular reactivity (Panel B). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohen's d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.

FIGURE 8

Framingham atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD) and vascular age in individuals with dyslipidemia (“1“, n = 17) and individuals with normal lipids (“0“, n = 26). Data are individual plots and box and whisker (median and IQR). The p values and Cohen's d are for the group comparison using independent samples t‐test.