Relationship between blood pressure, cholesterolemia and serum apolipoprotein B in a large population sample: the Brisighella Heart Study

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the relationship between cholesterolemia, serum apolipoprotein B (apoB) level and blood pressure in a large sample of general population. Methods: The Brisighella Heart Study (BHS) is a prospective, population-based longitudinal epidemiological investigation. For this study, we analysed the data sampled in the 2008 BHS population survey, excluding those participants treated with antihypertensive and/or lipid lowering drugs (N: 2473). Results: In a sex, BMI, smoking habit, physical activity level and serum creatinine adjusted model, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) appears to be significantly related to SBP (P < 0.001), DBP (P = 0.026), and pulse pressure (PP) (P < 0.001). In individuals aged less than 52 years, LDL-C was significantly associated to SBP and DBP (P < 0.001), but not PP. In the same model, apoB appears to be mildly but significantly related to SBP (P < 0.001), DBP (P < 0.001), and PP (P < 0.001). In individuals aged less than 52 years, apoB was significantly associated to SBP (P < 0.001), DBP (P < 0.001), and PP (P < 0.001). In individuals aged 52 or more, nor LDL-C neither apoB were significantly associated to blood pressure. Including in the same model LDL-C and apoB, apoB excluded the predicting role of LDL-C as it regards the blood pressure either in the whole population sample and in the younger individuals. Conclusion: On the basis of our observation, either serum LDL-C and apoB are significantly related to the blood pressure level in a large sample of individuals untreated with antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs. This association is stronger in younger individuals than in elderly. ApoB seems to be a stronger predictor of either SBP, DBP and PP than LDL-C.