Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio presents a linear association with atherosclerosis and nonlinear association with arteriosclerosis in elderly Chinese population: The Northern Shanghai Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammation closely correlates with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) is a novel inflammation index that can be obtained by routine blood tests. We aimed to investigate the associations between MHR and atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 2451 participants from the Northern Shanghai Study. Atherosclerosis (carotid plaque (CP), lower extremity atherosclerotic (LEA) assessed by ankle-brachial index) and arteriosclerosis (arterial stiffness (AS) assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity) were measured using standard methods. In the univariable logistic regression model, higher MHR was significantly associated with increased AS, CP, and LEA risk. In the multivariable logistic regression model, after adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, smoking habit, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and family history of premature CVD, quartile 4 (Q4) of MHR was associated with an increased risk of AS (odds ratio (OR) = 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.05-1.88; P  = 0.036), CP (OR = 1.35; 95%CI:1.04-1.77; P  = 0.044), and LEA (OR = 2.23; 95%CI:1.49-3.35; P < 0.001). Similar results were observed when MHR was analyzed as a continuous variable. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve showed that the association between MHR and AS was nonlinear (P  = 0.021), but not LEA (P  = 0.177) or CP (P  = 0.72).

CONCLUSION

MHR presents a linear association with atherosclerosis and a nonlinear association with arteriosclerosis in the elderly Chinese population. These findings may indicate the need for early assessment and intervention for inflammation. The registration number for clinical trials: NCT02368938.