LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia, particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, plays a critical role in its pathogenesis. Although extensive research has been conduc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yan Jiang, Lina Zhang, Zhifeng Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04792-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850206597851119616
author Yan Jiang
Lina Zhang
Zhifeng Gu
author_facet Yan Jiang
Lina Zhang
Zhifeng Gu
author_sort Yan Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia, particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, plays a critical role in its pathogenesis. Although extensive research has been conducted in Western populations, the relationship between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and atherosclerosis in the Japanese population remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and atherosclerosis, as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), in a Japanese cohort. Methods This secondary analysis used data from a cross-sectional study involving 912 participants. LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was calculated from fasting blood samples and baPWV was used to assess atherosclerosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and other potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore variations by demographic and clinical factors. Results The mean age of the study population was 51.1 years, and 64.9% were male. Significant differences were observed across LDL-C/HDL-C ratio tertiles for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, liver enzymes, lipid profiles and lifestyle factors (p < 0.001 for most). Univariate analyses showed strong associations between atherosclerosis and age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, liver function markers, metabolic factors and lifestyle behaviours (p < 0.001 for most). Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV, adjusting for factors such as age, sex, BMI, and other metabolic variables. Subgroup analyses showed significant associations between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV in women (p = 0.036), participants aged < 55 years (p = 0.009), and those with BMI < 25 kg/m² (p = 0.044). No significant interactions were observed between subgroups (p for interaction > 0.05). Conclusions LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is significantly associated with atherosclerosis in the Japanese population, with varying strength in different demographic and clinical subgroups. These findings highlight the importance of LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis and underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage cardiovascular risk in this population. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
format Article
id doaj-art-9a08459b1455413ba97edfad4115b8e7
institution OA Journals
issn 1471-2261
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
spelling doaj-art-9a08459b1455413ba97edfad4115b8e72025-08-20T02:10:46ZengBMCBMC Cardiovascular Disorders1471-22612025-04-012511910.1186/s12872-025-04792-8LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional studyYan Jiang0Lina Zhang1Zhifeng Gu2Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityDalian Medical UniversityAbstract Background Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia, particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, plays a critical role in its pathogenesis. Although extensive research has been conducted in Western populations, the relationship between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and atherosclerosis in the Japanese population remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and atherosclerosis, as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), in a Japanese cohort. Methods This secondary analysis used data from a cross-sectional study involving 912 participants. LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was calculated from fasting blood samples and baPWV was used to assess atherosclerosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and other potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore variations by demographic and clinical factors. Results The mean age of the study population was 51.1 years, and 64.9% were male. Significant differences were observed across LDL-C/HDL-C ratio tertiles for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, liver enzymes, lipid profiles and lifestyle factors (p < 0.001 for most). Univariate analyses showed strong associations between atherosclerosis and age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, liver function markers, metabolic factors and lifestyle behaviours (p < 0.001 for most). Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the association between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV, adjusting for factors such as age, sex, BMI, and other metabolic variables. Subgroup analyses showed significant associations between LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and baPWV in women (p = 0.036), participants aged < 55 years (p = 0.009), and those with BMI < 25 kg/m² (p = 0.044). No significant interactions were observed between subgroups (p for interaction > 0.05). Conclusions LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is significantly associated with atherosclerosis in the Japanese population, with varying strength in different demographic and clinical subgroups. These findings highlight the importance of LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis and underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage cardiovascular risk in this population. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04792-8LDL-C/HDL-C ratioAtherosclerosisBrachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV)Japanese populationArterial stiffnessCardiovascular risk
spellingShingle Yan Jiang
Lina Zhang
Zhifeng Gu
LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
LDL-C/HDL-C ratio
Atherosclerosis
Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV)
Japanese population
Arterial stiffness
Cardiovascular risk
title LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
title_full LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
title_short LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: insights from a cross-sectional study
title_sort ldl c hdl c ratio as a predictor of atherosclerosis in the japanese population insights from a cross sectional study
topic LDL-C/HDL-C ratio
Atherosclerosis
Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV)
Japanese population
Arterial stiffness
Cardiovascular risk
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04792-8
work_keys_str_mv AT yanjiang ldlchdlcratioasapredictorofatherosclerosisinthejapanesepopulationinsightsfromacrosssectionalstudy
AT linazhang ldlchdlcratioasapredictorofatherosclerosisinthejapanesepopulationinsightsfromacrosssectionalstudy
AT zhifenggu ldlchdlcratioasapredictorofatherosclerosisinthejapanesepopulationinsightsfromacrosssectionalstudy