Association of remnant cholesterol and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol with risk of cardiovascular mortality among US general population

Background: There are strong association between remnant cholesterol (RC)/non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C) and increase cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of present study was to investigate the association between target lipid parameters (RC and NHDL-C) and the risk of CV mortality in general population. Methods: Data set from an open database-National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003-2014 were extracted (n = 14992). Kaplan-Meier, multivariable COX regression, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) parameters.Results: Compared to the lowest quartile, RC (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.63 95%CI 1.05-2.52, P for trend = 0.037) and triglycerides (TG: Model 3: HR = 1.69 95%CI 1.10-2.60, P for trend = 0.049) in the highest quartile were independently associated with the increased cardiovascular mortality, while NHDL-C and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in adjusted models did not show association (P for trend >0.05). In addition, RCS regression demonstrated that RC (P for nonlinearity = 0.011) and TG (P for nonlinearity = 0.010) levels had a similar J-shape association with CV mortality. Threshold effect analysis showed that when RC <= 29.3 mg/dL, the level of RC and CV mor-tality risk were positively correlated.Conclusions: Our findings suggest high RC levels are associated with an increased risk of CV mortality, which support that the integration of TG-rich lipoproteins parameters in risk assessment might optimize the identifi-cation and management of selected population.