Background: High levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an independent risk factor for premature coronary heart disease (PCHD). It is also considered a residual risk for controlled low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Dietary control, exercise, and drugs have limited effects on the levels of Lp(a). Recently, mental health was found to be associated with lipid levels and increased risk of PCHD. However, the relationship between mental health and Lp(a) is still unknown. This study explored the association between mental health and Lp(a) levels in men with PCHD.
Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted. A total of 226 male patients with PCHD, aged 49.65±3.68 years, was included in this study. The control group consisted of 230 age-matched healthy male volunteers. Serum Lp(a) levels ≥30 mg/dL, as measured by the immunoturbidimetry method, were considered high. All participants received health related quality of life (HRQoL) scores using the self-assessed 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The HRQoL includes both a physical component summary (PCS) and a mental component summary (MCS).
Results: Patients with PCHD were found to have higher levels of Lp(a) (51.61±33.39 vs. 26.42±21.93, P<0.001), and lower MCS (35.83±4.21 vs. 39.85±4.12) and PCS scores (38.02±3.73 vs. 39.63±3.21) compared to healthy volunteers. The MCS score was negatively correlated with Lp(a) levels in the PCHD group (R=-0.295, P<0.001), but no correlation was detected in the control group. There was no relationship between the PCS score and Lp(a) levels in neither the PCHD group nor the healthy control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the MCS and PCS scores were negatively correlated with the risk of PCHD.
Conclusions: These findings suggested that poor mental health may be associated with high levels of Lp(a) and increased risk of PCHD in men. Therefore, improving the mental state in men with PCHD may be crucial.
Keywords: Mental health; lipoprotein(a) levels (Lp(a) levels); premature coronary heart disease (PCHD).