High cholesterol and triglyceride values in Swedish males and females: increased risk of fatal myocardial infarction. First report from the AMORIS (Apolipoprotein related MOrtality RISk) study.

In over 300,000 Swedish males and females aged 20 to 79 years total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured consecutively between 1985 and 1989. In a subsample of about 35,000 individuals apolipoprotein (apo) B (indicating atherogenic) and apo A-I (anti-atherogenic) were also measured. In the age group 40-49 years, 24% of the males and 12% of the females had hypercholesterolemia (> or = 6.5 mmol/L) and 14% and 3%, respectively had hypertriglyceridemia (> or = 2.3 mmol/L). Combined hyperlipidemia occurred in this age group in 7% of the males and in 1% of the females and was more common in males. In the same age group, 21% of the males and 8% of the females had high atherogenic apo B values (> 1.5 g/L). Low apo A-I was found in the whole population (20-79 years) in 13% of the males and in 10% of the females and varied only little with age. In the AMORIS (Apolipoprotein related MOrtality RISk) study these individuals are followed prospectively. The relations between lipids and apo B and apo A-I levels and risk for fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are analyzed to investigate which of these lipids/apolipoproteins best predict AMI either as single determinants or in combination. After a mean observation time of about 22 months there is a 3-6-fold increase in AMI in relation to increasing cholesterol levels in males of 40-59 years. The largest increase was seen in the 40-49-year age group. A similar relationship was also found for triglycerides and AMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)