Prognostic Significance of Hypertriglyceridemia in Patients at High and Very High Cardiovascular Risk Depending on the Concentration of High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein

Background: It has been established that an increase in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein levels is associated with the development of systemic low-grade inflammation. Data on the prognostic role of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) dependent on the state of low-grade inflammation are limited. Objective: The study's objective was to evaluate the predictive value of mild-to-moderate HTG (2.3-11.2 mmol/L) regarding the development of cardiovascular events in patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk (CVR), depending on the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) values. Methods: The study included 185 patients with high and very high CVR. The concentration of hsCRP in blood serum was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The combined endpoint was cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or unstable angina (which required hospitalization), nonfatal stroke, and coronary revascularization. Results: HTG was revealed in 17.3% of the patients. An increase in hsCRP >= 2.0 mg/L was observed in 51.9% of the patients. The event-free survival of patients with HTG was not statistically different from that in patients with TG <2.3 mmol/L (RR 1.61; 95% CI 0.86-3.00; p=0.133). In the subgroup of patients with hsCRP <2.0 mg/L, patients with HTG were not significantly different from patients without HTG. In the subgroup of patients with hsCRP >= 2.0 mg/L, the presence of HTG was associated with a 4.63 times increase in the RR of adverse cardiovascular events (95% CI 1.35-15.8; p=0.015) after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion: In patients with high and very high CVR, an increase in TG >= 2.3 mmol/L was associated with the development of adverse cardiovascular events only in the subgroup of patients with an increase in hsCRP >= 2.0 mg/L. The presence of HTG was associated with a 4.63 times increase in RR of adverse cardiovascular events (95% CI 1.35-15.8; p=0.015).