Target triglycerides to prevent cardiovascular events

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17599
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53020:Cardiology-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Kajikawa Masato 広島大学, 病院(医), 助教 (80777293)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 中性脂肪 / 血管内皮機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A total of 679 patients aged 30-88 years who had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Serum triglyceride levels more than 100 mg/dL were significantly associated with an increased risk of first major cardiovascular events compared with the serum triglyceride levels <100 mg/dL.
Next, a total of 7047 subjects who underwent health-screening examinations with agreement for measurement of vascular function were enrolled. We investigated cross-sectional associations between serum triglyceride levels and endothelial function assessed by measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). FMD was significantly higher in subjects with triglyceride levels of <50 mg/dL than in subjects with triglyceride levels of more than 50 mg/dL.

Free Research Field

循環器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本や外国における脂質異常症ガイドラインは、中性脂肪が150 mg/dL以下を正常と定義している。しかし、適切な中性脂肪治療の目標値について十分な根拠がなく、どこまで介入すればよいのか指針はない。本研究の成果により、中性脂肪が正常高値であるの100-150 mg/dLの群で、既に血管内皮機能が障害され、心血管疾患発症リスクが高いことが示された。さらに血管内皮機能と中性脂肪との関係に関する研究結果から、中性脂肪はより低い値を目標に治療を行うことで心筋梗塞、脳梗塞などの血管合併症発症の抑制につながることが示唆された。