Relation of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol to Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Patients With Low-Density Lipoprotein <70 mg/dl

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in the general population. Conflicting data exist on the protective effects of high HDL cholesterol in patients with optimal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. To determine the association of high HDL cholesterol with mortality in patients with LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention, 3,616 consecutive patients with LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from July 1, 1999, to June 1, 2007, were retrospectively analyzed and followed through July 1, 2007. All-cause mortality was identified using the National Death Index. The mortality rates was 34.7, 25.2, 23.7, and 18.8 per 1,000 person-years in patients with HDL cholesterol levels of <40, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and ≥60 mg/dl, respectively (p for trend <0.001). After multivariate adjustment for demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, biochemical variables, and co-morbid conditions, the hazard ratios for mortality in patients with HDL cholesterol levels of 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and ≥60 mg/dl, compared with their counterparts with HDL cholesterol levels <40 mg/dl, were 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50 to 0.93), 0.55 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.85), and 0.45 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.74), respectively. For each 1-SD increase in HDL cholesterol level (14 mg/dl), the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.68 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.79). In conclusion, in patients with LDL cholesterol levels <70 mg/dl who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, a strong inverse association was present between HDL cholesterol level and all-cause mortality.