Epidemiological characteristics of serum small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: From 2017 to 2019 in Chengdu adults, China

Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a better indicator in monitoring atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to explore the distribution patterns of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SdLDL-C), SdLDL-C/(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]; SLR), SdLDL-C/(high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]; SHR), and SdLDL-C/(apolipoprotein B; SBR) in adults in Chengdu, China. The retrospective study enrolled 1549 adults (aged 20-69 years) in Chengdu, China from 2017 to 2019. The subjects were first divided into 5 age groups to evaluated the distribution patterns of SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR in adults in Chengdu, China, then divided into normal and dyslipidemia groups to compare the differences, and multiple lipid parameters were quantitatively analyzed the differences further. Finally, we had evaluated the correlations among SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR and other lipids. The median concentrations of serum SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR were 0.71 mmol/L, 0.29, 0.54, and 0.83, respectively, in adults in Chengdu, China. The levels of serum SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR increased with age. Men had higher levels of SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR than women. The dyslipidemia group had higher levels of SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR than the normal group. And in the subgroups of dyslipidemia, the differences in SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR among subgroups were statistically meaningful. SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR were positively correlated with total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas inverse correlations were observed with HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1. Our study showed the distribution characteristics of serum SdLDL-C, SLR, SHR, and SBR in adults in Chengdu, China, which contributed to the growing body of evidence supporting the incorporation of advanced lipid markers into cardiovascular risk assessment frameworks, particularly for Chinese populations with unique metabolic characteristics.