Relation Between Plaque Progression and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol During Aging as Assessed With Serial Long-Term (≥12 Months) Follow-Up Intravascular Ultrasound of the Left Main Coronary Artery

Because of the clinical benefit of lipid lowering in older patients, we hypothesized that the relation between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol serum levels and coronary plaque progression may persist throughout aging. We analyzed serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data of 60 left main stems (18 ± 9 months apart) and evaluated the relation between LDL cholesterol levels and coronary plaque progression at different ages. The population (n = 60) was divided into 3 groups according to age: tertile 1 (n = 20) was a mean age of 48 ± 6 years (median 51, range 33 to 55), tertile 2 (n = 20) was a mean age of 58 ± 2 years (median 59, range 55 to 61), and tertile 3 (n = 20) was a mean age of 66 ± 6 years (median 65, range 61 to 83). Between groups, there was no significant difference in non–age-related demographics, clinical data, lipid profiles, or medications (e.g., statins). There was a positive linear relation between LDL cholesterol and annual changes in plaque plus media area in all age tertiles, which was statistically significant in tertiles 2 and 3 (r = 0.56, p <0.01; r = 0.50, p <0.02) and showed a strong trend in tertile 1 (r = 0.41, p = 0.07). The estimated LDL cholesterol thresholds, which, as determined by regression analysis, would correspond to no plaque progression, were 74, 60, and 78 mg/dl, respectively, in tertiles 1, 2, and 3. In conclusion, serial IVUS data in left main coronary arteries suggest that the relation between LDL cholesterol serum levels and plaque progression persists during aging.