Triglycerides and coronary heart disease: a global perspective.

Abstract

1350-6277 © 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Introduction Epidemiologic studies have convincingly demonstrated a strong positive and independent correlation between serum cholesterol level and coronary heart disease (CHD) [1]. In recent years, this association has been solidified because clinical endpoint data have consistently demonstrated that lowering an elevated cholesterol level reduces the CHD event and mortality rates [2]. Whether and to what extent triglycerides independently contribute to CHD has been widely debated in the literature. Some have argued that elevated triglycerides do not cause CHD per se, but rather serve as a marker for metabolic abnormalities (e.g. glucose intolerance) associated with a reduced catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins [3]. Others have pointed out that although triglycerides are associated with CHD in univariate analysis, the strength of this association is reduced after adjustment for other co-variates such as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol [4].