LIPIDS, LIPOPROTEINS AND OTHER CORONARY RISK-FACTORS IN CHINESE MALE SURVIVORS OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Objective: To assess the importance of an abnormal lipid profile as a risk factor in relation to nonbiochemical risk factors, and to define the risk levels for lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein in a Chinese population. Patients and Methods: Serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipo proteins and other cardiovascular risk factors were studied in 89 Chin ese men 3 months after acute myocardial infarction and 56 controls. Re sults: Cases had higher mean total cholesterol (TC), LDL- and VLDL-cho lesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and lower mean H DL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI). Mean BMI was also highe r, as was the prevalence of smokers and subjects with a history of hyp ertension. In univariate analysis, the odds ratios for TG greater-than -or-equal-to 1.6 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol greater-than-or-equal-to 4.1 mmol/l, VLDL-cholesterol greater-than-or-equal-to 0.73 mmol/l, Apo B g reater-than-or-equal-to 104 mg/dl were of the same order of magnitude as being a current smoker, having a BMI greater-than-or-equal-to 24.3 kg/m2, and a history of hypertension. High HDL-cholesterol (greater-th an-or-equal-to 1.39 mmol/l) and Apo Al (greater-than-or-equal-to 139 m g/dl) were protective factors. The odds ratios for successively higher quartile values of cholesterol were not statistically significant. Mu ltiple logistic regression identified smoking habit, history of hypert ension, obesity, high Apo B and low Apo Al concentrations as independe nt risk factors for myocardial infarction. Conclusions: In a Chinese p opulation, low serum Apo Al and high Apo B are risk factors for myocar dial infarction of a comparable magnitude to smoking, hypertension and obesity.