Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio can predict coronary artery calcification

Objectives: We assessed the TG/HDL-C ratio as a predictor for the presence of coronary artery calcifications (CACs).

Methods: We collected demographic characteristics (age and gender), physical examination (height, weight, BMI, SBP, DBP), comorbidities, medication use, and laboratory variables Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein (TG, HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, UA, TBG, 25-OH-VitD3); and we used coronary angiography to determine the presence of CACs. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the correlation between the TG/HDL-C ratio and CACs and established a predictive model.

Results: CAC was present in 121 patients (25.80%). The levels of TG and TG/HDL-C ratio in the CAC group were higher than those in the non-CAC group, while the level of HDL-C in the CAC group was lower than that in the non-CAC group. The univariate analysis showed that the TG/HDL-C ratio was associated with CAC (OR, 0.021; 95% CI, 0.008 to 0.052; P<0.001), and the multivariate analysis indicated that the ratio was an independent risk factor for CAC (OR, 4.088; 95% CI, 2.787-5.996; P<0.001). Using the ratio to establish a prediction model, the area under the ROC curve was 0.814 (95% CI, 0.775-0.853; P<0.001), suggesting that the TG/HDL-C ratio has a high diagnostic efficiency. The diagnostic threshold was 1.037, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 89.3% and 60.5%, respectively.

Conclusion: The Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein TG/HDL-C ratio is an independent risk factor for CAC with good diagnostic efficacy.

Abbreviations: TG: Triglycerides, HDL-C: High-Density Lipoprotein, CAC: Coronary Artery Calcifications, BMI: Body Mass Index, SBP: Systolic Blood Pressure, DBP: Diastolic Blood Pressure, UA: Uric Acid, FBG: Fasting Blood Glucose, 25-OH-VitD3: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, ACEI: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, ARB: Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, CCB: Calcium Channel Blockers, ARNI: Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor, CAG: Coronary Angiography, AUCROC: Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve.