Fasting and nonfasting lipid levels similarly predict CVD risk

Reference

Mora S, Chang CL, Moorthy MV, Sever PS. Association of nonfasting vs fasting lipid levels with risk of major coronary events in the Anglo-Scandinavian cardiac outcomes trial--lipid lowering arm. JAMA Intern Med 2019;179(7):898-905.

Synopsis

This study looked at 8270 patients enrolled in a clinical trial of cholesterol lowering. The patients were between the ages of 40 years and 79 years with hypertension and a total untreated cholesterol level of less than 250 mg/dL (6.5 mmol/L) with 3 additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The authors obtained nonfasting and fasting lipid levels, 4 weeks apart, during the baseline period of the study. The average fasting and nonfasting total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were similar. Triglyceride levels were modestly higher (25 mg/dL; 0.28 mmol/L) when measured in nonfasting patients. The hazard ratios, which in this case measured of the cumulative risk of having a major coronary event within 3.3 years, were similarly associated with fasting and nonfasting cholesterol levels. Results were similar for patients with and without previous cardiovascular disease and in treated and nontreated patients.