Higher triglyceride level is associated with the higher prevalence of layered plaque in nonculprit coronary plaques

Abstract Background The impact of the high triglyceride (TG) level on the characteristics of coronary plaque in nonculprit lesion remains to be elucidated. Purpose To clarify the association between the TG level and the characteristics of nonculprit coronary plaque in patients with stable coronary disease using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods A total of 531 consecutive patients who underwent OCT imaging of the nonculprit lesion were included. Patients were classified into either the higher TG group (non-fasting TG ≥150 mg/dL, n=197) or the lower TG group (non-fasting TG <150 mg/dL, n=334). The morphologies of nonculprit plaque assessed by OCT were compared between the two groups. Results The median (interquartile range) of TG in the two groups was 193.0 (168.0–244.0) mg/dL and 95.0 (75.0–120.0) mg/dL, respectively. The prevalence of layered plaque was significantly higher in the higher TG group than the lower TG group (40.1 vs. 27.5%, p=0.004), whereas the prevalence of other plaque components was comparable between the two groups (Figure 1). The prevalence of layered plaque was significantly higher in the higher TG group than in the lower TG group among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) (44.2 vs. 28.7%, p=0.037) although it was comparable between the two groups among patients without DM (Figure 2). Conclusion A higher TG level was associated with a higher prevalence of layered plaque in nonculprit plaques in patients with stable coronary disease, particularly in patients with DM. The present results may partly explain the impact of TG on the progression of coronary plaque and the increased incidence of recurrent events in patients with coronary artery disease. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.