The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and Prostate specific antigen (PSA): a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background There is mounting evidence that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can be influenced by lipid metabolism. However, there is still no clear relationship between PSA levels and the ratio of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHHR). This study's goal is to evaluate the association between PSA and NHHR by using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods We used data from the NHANES from 2003 to 2010 to examine the connection between PSA and NHHR. Out of 41,156 participants, 6,015 met our inclusion criteria. Serum triglycerides served as our independent variable, while PSA was the dependent variable. Results The study's participants were 59.7 years old on average, with a standard deviation of 12.7 years. After controlling for potential confounding variables, a one-unit increment in NHHR was associated with a decrease of 0.15 ng/mL in PSA levels, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from − 0.22 to -0.08, indicating a statistically significant inverse relationship. Moreover, a restricted cubic spline analysis further corroborated the presence of a statistically significant, largely inverse association between NHHR and PSA concentrations. Conclusions Among American males, NHHR is inversely correlated with PSA. This negative correlation might make it challenging for men with higher triglycerides to detect asymptomatic prostate cancer and achieve early diagnosis.