Effect of acute myocardial infarction on cholesterol ratios

Objective: In patients with acute myocardial infarctions (MIs), cholesterol levels are no longer valid after 24 h from presentation because acute MI causes a rapid decline in serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute MI on the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and the LDL cholesterol/HDL, cholesterol ratio. Methods: The study consisted of 45 patients who were admitted to the hospital with acute MIs. Serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined on day I post-AU and day 4 post-MI. The total cholesterol/HDL, cholesterol ratio and the LDL cholesterol/HDL, cholesterol ratio were calculated. Sexism lipid levels and cholesterol ratios were compared between day 1 post-MI and day 4 post-MI. Results: From day 1 post-MI to day 4 post-MI, the mean ( SD) serum levels of total cholesterol (188.4 +/- 52.5 vs 170.5 +/- 57.2 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.01), LDL cholesterol (120.3 +/- 48.9 vs 105.9 +/- 43.0 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.009), and HDL cholesterol (45.0 +/- 18.5 vs 39.3 +/- 16.1 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001) decreased, but the mean serum level of triglycerides (119.2 <plus/minus> 81.2 vs 149.3 +/- 68.3 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.006) increased. The cholesterol ratios, however, remained unchanged between day 1 post-Nil and day 4 post-MI. The total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was 4.59 +/- 1.84 on day 1 post-MI and 4.67 +/- 1.77 on day 4 post-MI (change not significant). The LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was 2.96 +/- 1.58 on day 1 post-MI and 2.99 +/- 1.44 on day 4 post-MI (change not significant). Conclusion: Acute MI does not affect the cholesterol ratios. Therefore, when the absolute levels of serum cholesterol are no longer valid (beyond 24 h after an Nil), the cholesterol ratios still could be useful for cholesterol risk assessment in patients with acute MIs.