Xanthelesmata as a predictor of cardiovascular risk

January 01, 0001

Xanthelesmata as a predictor of cardiovascular risk

This group of Danish researchers looked at whether the presence of xanthelasmata and/or arcus corneae predict cardiovascular via a prospective population based cohort study, the Copenhagen City Heart Study. This study included 12?745 people without cardiovascular disease age 20-93 years free of ischaemic vascular disease followed for 33 years with 100% completion of follow-up.

The researchers found: "Multifactorially adjusted hazard/odds ratios for people with versus those without xanthelasmata were 1.48 for myocardial infarction, 1.39 for ischaemic heart disease, 0.94 for ischaemic stroke, 0.91 for ischaemic cerebrovascular disease, 1.69 for severe atherosclerosis, and 1.14 for death. The corresponding hazard/odds ratios for people with versus those without arcus corneae were non-significant. In people with versus those without both xanthelasmata and arcus corneae, hazard/odds ratios were 1.47 for myocardial infarction, 1.56 for ischaemic heart disease, 0.87 for ischaemic stroke, 0.86 for ischaemic cerebrovascular disease, 2.75 for severe atherosclerosis, and 1.09 for death. In all age groups in both women and men, absolute 10 year risk of myocardial infarction, ischaemic heart disease, and death increased in the presence of xanthelasmata. The highest absolute 10 year risks of ischaemic heart disease of 53% and 41% were found in men aged 70-79 years with and without xanthelasmata. Corresponding values in women were 35% and 27%."

The researchers concluded: "Xanthelasmata predict risk of myocardial infarction, ischaemic heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, and death in the general population, independently of well known cardiovascular risk factors, including plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. In contrast, arcus corneae is not an important independent predictor of risk."

This study find that the presence of xanthalesmata is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk

For the full abstract, click here.

BMJ 343:d5497, 15 September 2011 © 2011 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Xanthelasmata, arcus corneae, and ischaemic vascular disease and death in general population: prospective cohort study. Mette Christoffersen, Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, Peter Schnohr, Gorm B Jensen, Børge G Nordestgaard, Anne Tybjærg-Hansen,. Correspondence to A Tybjærg-Hansen: at-h@rh.regionh.dk

Category: F. Eye, K. Circulatory. Keywords: xanthelasmata, arcus corneae, cardiovascular risk, death, myocardial infarction, prospective cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 18 October 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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