Preoperative HDL-C Predicts Later Cardiovascular Events after Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery.

PURPOSE

To determine the predictive value of serum lipid levels on the development of later cardiovascular events after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery.

METHODS

A total of 101 patients under 70 undergoing an elective AAA surgery were divided into the following two groups: 1) those who developed later cardiovascular events after AAA surgery, including cerebral infarction (n = 4), catheter intervention (PCI) or surgery for coronary artery disease (CAD) (n = 9) and other vascular disease. (CVE group; n = 19); 2) those without later events (NoCVE group: n = 82). Preoperative atherosclerotic risk factors including serum lipid levels were subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The CVE group showed a significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level (32.9 ± 6.6 vs 41.6 ± 12.1 mg/dL; p <0.001), higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) / HDL-C ratio (4.30 ± 1.01 vs 3.24 ± 1.15; p = 0.001), and higher prevalence of mild CAD (without an indication of PCI) (p = 0.029) preoperatively. Cox hazard analysis indicated that preexistent mild CAD (hazard ratio 4.70) and preoperative HDL-C <35 mg/dL (hazard ratio 3.07) were significant predictors for later cardiovascular events after AAA surgery.

CONCLUSION

Patients at high risk for later cardiovascular events should require a careful follow-up and may also require an aggressive lipid-modifying therapy.