Non-fasting LDL-c levels have similar predictive value for mortality as fasting levels
Analysis in large NHANES-III cohort shows that fasting LDL-c levels do not have better prognostic value for all-cause or CV mortality than the more convenient, non-fasting levels.
Prognostic Value of Fasting vs. Non-Fasting Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels on Long-term Mortality: Insight from the National Health and Nutrition Survey III (NHANES-III)Literature - Doran B et al. Circulation. 2014 - Circulation. 2014 Jul 11
Doran B, Guo Y, Xu J et al.,
Circulation. 2014 Jul 11. pii: CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010001. [Epub ahead of print]
Background
Current guidelines on cholesterol management recommend that lipid panel measurement should be performed after 8-12 hours of fasting [1-3], since certain lipid parameters can be variable depending on the timing and content of the last meal.Levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-c and HDL-c vary little with respect to fasting time, while triglycerides may vary by up to 20-30% [4,5]. It has been suggested that non-fasting lipids may have equivalent predictive value for CV outcomes, since the non-fasting state may more accurately reflect the body’s exposure to circulating lipids [6-8]. No benefit or improved risk prediction has been demonstrated when using non-fasting as opposed to fasting triglycerides [9-12].
This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of fasting versus non-fasting LDL-c for prediction of all-cause mortality and CV mortality in men and women, by using the data of 16161 individuals in the National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey III (NHANES-III) database, linked to the National Death Index.
Main results
- 10.023 (62.0%) participants were fasting (>8 hours), and 6238 (38.0%) were non-fasting at the time of phlebotomy.
- In the unmatched cohort, there was an increased risk of all-cause mortality with increasing LDL-C tertile (HR 2nd vs 1st tertile: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.34-1.83, HR: 3rd vs. 1st: 2.00, 95%CI: 1.70-2.33).
- The C-statistics for fasting vs. non-fasting LDL-c levels for prediction of all-cause mortality were similar (both 0.58), suggesting a similar prognostic value.
- Results were similar when individuals with triglycerides >400 mg/dL were included, or when diabetic patients were considered separately from non-diabetics.
- In a propensity score-matched cohort, a similarly increased risk of all-cause mortality was seen with increasing LDL-c tertile, and no difference in C-statistic was seen between the fasting and non-fasting groups.
- CV mortality was also increased in higher LDL-c tertiles (HR 2nd vs. 1st tertile: 1.82, 95%CI: 1.38-2.39, and 3rd vs. 1st tertile: HR: 2.94, 95%CI: 2.20-3.93). C-statistics were similar in the fasting and non-fasting groups. Similar findings were seen in the propensity score-matched cohort.
Conclusion
This nationally representative cohort study of data of 16161 individuals, followed for 14.0 years, shows that non-fasting LDL-c have a similar prognostic value as fasting LDL-c levels, for prediction of both all-cause mortality and CV mortality.These analyses excluded patients with triglycerides >400 mg/dL, but results did not change considerably after including these patients in a sensitivity analysis. Thus, it may not be necessary to use fasting lipid levels to risk stratify patients. The more convenient method of obtaining non-fasting LDL-c levels preserves the prognostic value of the test. These results suggest that the need for fasting LDL-c measurements should be reconsidered by guideline societies.
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