Differential effects of the changes of LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure on the risk of carotid artery atherosclerosis

Background: The effects of baseline and changes in blood pressure and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol on the carotid intima media thickness (IMT) have not been well documented. Methods: A total of 2572 adults (mean age 53.8 years, 54.6% women) in a Taiwanese community undertook three blood pressure and LDL cholesterol examinations over 6 years. Latent growth curve modeling was used to investigate the effects of baseline and change in blood pressure and LDL cholesterol on IMT. Results: Greater baseline LDL and blood pressure were associated with an increase in IMT (0.005 +/- 0.002 mm per 1 mg/dL [p = 0.006] and 0.041 +/- 0.004 mm mmHg [p < 0.0001], respectively. Change in blood pressure was associated with a significant increase in IMT (0.047 +/- 0.016, P = 0.004), whilst the association between change in LDL and change in IMT was not statistically significant (0.008 +/- 0.006, P = 0.20). Conclusions: Carotid IMT was associated with baseline blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, yet only changes of blood pressure, not LDL cholesterol, were related to carotid IMT during the 6-year observation.