ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the dynamic trends in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with ageing.DesignA Chinese population-based cross-sectional study.SettingA physical examination centre of a general hospital.ParticipantsAdult subjects (178 167: 103 461 men and 74 706 women) without a known medical history or treatments that affect lipid metabolism.Main outcome measuresDynamic trends in the above-mentioned lipid parameters with ageing were explored; turning points of age were established using age stratification and validated by fitted multivariate linear regression modelling.ResultsAge was found to be an independent factor extensively associated with lipid levels in both sexes when adjusted for serum glucose, body mass index, lifestyle, drinking and smoking. Age was positively associated with TC, logarithm-transformed TG (LnTG) and LDL-C levels in men ≤40, ≤40 and ≤60 years old (yo) and in women ≤60, ≤70 and ≤60 yo, respectively. Conversely, age correlated negatively with TC, LnTG and LDL-C levels in men ≥61, ≥41 and ≥61 yo and in women ≥61, ≥71 and ≥61 yo, respectively. TC, TG and LDL-C levels in women were initially lower than those in men but surpassed those in men in 51–55, 61–65 and 51–55 yo age groups. The trends in HDL-C levels with age were relatively irregular, although HDL-C levels in women were higher than in men for all age groups.ConclusionsThe definition of dyslipidaemia, the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk assessment and the initiation/goals of statin therapy should fully consider age-related trends in lipid levels and sex differences.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is highly prevalent globally and a major cause of mortality. Genetic predisposition is a non-modifiable risk factor associated with CHD. Eighty-four Chinese patients with CHD and 253 healthy Chinese controls without CHD were recruited. Major clinical data were collected, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) gene at position 801 (G to A, rs1801157) in the 3'-untranslated region was identified. The correlation between rs1801157 genotypes and CHD was evaluated by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The allele frequency in the CHD and control groups was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (p > 0.05). The frequency of the GG genotype in the CHD group (59.5%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (49.8%) (p = 0.036). A number of variables, including male sex, age, presence of hypertension, and the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), uric acid, and total bilirubin, were associated with CHD in a primary univariate analysis. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, the GG genotype (GG:AA, odds ratio (OR) = 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21–5.23), male sex, advanced age (≥60 years), presence of hypertension, LDL-C level ≥ 3.33 mg/dL, HDL-C level < 1.03 mg/dL, and TG level ≥ 1.7 mg/dL were independent risk factors for CHD.

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the second intron of human TERT (hTERT), rs2736100, acts as a critical factor in hTERT synthesis and activation. The rs2736100 SNP was found to be associated with susceptibility to many cancers. Recently, inhibition of telomerase and marked telomere shortening were determined to be closely associated with the increasing severity of atherosclerosis. The association between the SNP of rs2736100 and the presence of atherosclerosis was evaluated in 84 atherosclerosis patients and 257 healthy controls using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The proportion of the GG genotype in atherosclerosis patients (17.9%) was significantly higher than in the control group (9.7%). Eight variables, including age, gender, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, homocysteine, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, and rs2736100 GG genotype, were associated with atherosclerosis with odds ratios of 1.88, 2.11, 1.66, 0.23, 1.27, 1.29, 1.53, and 1.74, respectively, using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Homozygous GG was demonstrated to be associated with the presence of atherosclerosis in our population.

ObjectiveTo investigate the importance of controlling confounding factors during binary logistic regression analysis.MethodsMale coronary heart disease (CHD) patients (n = 664) and healthy control subjects (n = 400) were enrolled. Fourteen indexes were collected: age, uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B100, lipoprotein a, homocysteine, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, and γ-glutamyl transferase. Associations between these indexes and CHD were assessed by logistic regression, and results were compared by using different analysis strategies.Results1) Without controlling for confounding factors, 14 indexes were directly inputted in the analysis process, and 11 indexes were finally retained. A model was obtained with conflicting results. 2) According to the application conditions for logistic regression analysis, all 14 indexes were weighed according to their variances and the results of correlation analysis. Seven indexes were finally included in the model. The model was verified by receiver operating characteristic curve, with an area under the curve of 0.927.ConclusionsWhen binary logistic regression analysis is used to evaluate the complex relationships between risk factors and CHD, strict control of confounding factors can improve the reliability and validity of the analysis.

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