by Dr. Briffa

While raised cholesterol levels are often said to be bad news for the heart, I was interested to read a recently published piece of research which assessed the relationship between cholesterol levels and health outcomes in individuals suffering from heart failure. In this US-based study, about 2,500 people were assessed for an average of almost 3 years [1]. The researchers compared levels of supposedly unhealthy low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and overall risk of death during the period of the study.

This study, though, is not a one-off. Previous research has also linked lower levels of cholesterol with worse outcomes in those suffering from heart failure. In one study published in 2006, lower levels of total cholesterol were found to be associated with increased risk of death in patients with heart failure. The authors of this study concluded that: “Further research is necessary to determine the nature of this relationship, optimal lipid levels, and the therapeutic role, if any, of statins in patients with established [heart failure].”

Read the full article here: http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/10/25/low-cholesterol-associated-with-enhanced-risk-of-death-in-heart-failure-patients/

References:

1. Kahn MR, et al. Low-Density Lipoprotein Levels in Patients With Acute Heart Failure. Congest Heart Fail 2012 Oct 16. [Epub ahead of print]

2. Afsarmanesh N, et al. Total cholesterol levels and mortality risk in nonischemic systolic heart failure. Am Heart J. 2006;152(6):1077-83

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