The relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and arterial stiffness in a Taiwanese population

Background and aims There are few studies on the association between HDL-C levels and arterial stiffness (AS). HDL-C levels vary in males and females, and it is not clear whether the relationship between HDL-C levels and AS is influenced by gender. The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in the association between HDL-C levels and AS in adults. Methods and Results After excluding subjects using lipid-lowering agent, 7254 subjects were enrolled. The AS was assessed by measuring the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) value. The quartiles of HDL-C were <38, 38–45, 45–53 and >53 mg/dL in men and <48, 48–57, 57–69 and >68 mg/dL in women, respectively. In subjects aged <50 years, none of the HDL-C quartiles were associated with baPWV values. In subjects aged ≥50 years, the highest quartile of HDL-C (beta: −37.57, 95% CI: −61.61 to −13.54) was negatively related to baPWV values. When considering gender difference in subjects aged ≥50 years, the highest quartile of HDL-C (Q4 beta: −57.22, 95% CI: −95.63 to −18.81) was inversely associated with baPWV values in women, but none of the HDL-C quartiles were related to baPWV values in men. Conclusions A high HDL-C level was associated with a lower risk of AS in subjects aged ≥50 years in women but not in men, although this relationship was not apparent in subjects aged <50 years. The association between HDL-C level and AS is thus influenced by gender in people aged ≥50 years.