Guy Pepin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Guy Pepin

Research paper thumbnail of Risk determination of dyslipidemia in populations characterized by low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

American Heart Journal, 2003

Current guidelines for managing dyslipidemia qualify patients for treatment based on low-density ... more Current guidelines for managing dyslipidemia qualify patients for treatment based on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and other risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). However, when LDL-C is the sole lipid criterion for initiating therapy, patients with levels below the treatment initiation threshold who are at high risk because of low levels (<40 mg/dL) of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) might not be identified. Twenty percent of male patients with CHD in the United States fall into this category. The total cholesterol/HDL-C (TC/HDL-C) ratio predicts CHD risk regardless of the absolute LDL-C and HDL-C. We compared guidelines based on TC/HDL-C and LDL-C with those recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Both sets of guidelines were applied to 9837 adults (>20 years of age) in the Turkish Heart Study, which has shown that 75% of men and 50% of women in Turkey have HDL-C <40 mg/dL. ATP III guidelines identified 14% of Turkish adults, 20 years or older, as candidates for lifestyle treatment only and an additional 18% for drug treatment. In conjunction with ATP III LDL-C thresholds, the TC/HDL-C ratio (>3.5, patients with CHD; > or =6.0, 2+ risk factors, > or =7.0, 0 to 1 risk factor) assigned lifestyle therapy alone to 18% and drug treatment to an additional 36%. Among primary prevention subjects at high risk because of age (men > or =45 years; women > or =55 years), both sets of guidelines prescribed lifestyle therapy for only 5%; however, drug treatment was recommended for an additional 13% by ATP III guidelines and an additional 18% by TC/HDL-C and LDL-C. In populations at risk for CHD caused by low HDL-C, qualification of subjects for treatment based on either the TC/HDL-C ratio or LDL-C thresholds identifies more high-risk subjects for treatment than LDL-C threshold values alone, and use of the ratio, instead of risk tables, simplifies the approach for physicians.

Research paper thumbnail of Plasma lipids in Turkish children: impact of puberty, socioeconomic status, and nutrition on plasma cholesterol and HDL

In Turkish adults, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are 10-15 mg/dl lower than those of adults in w... more In Turkish adults, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are 10-15 mg/dl lower than those of adults in western Europe and the United States. In this study, we determined whether HDL-C levels in Turks are low from birth to adulthood and assessed the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Analyses of cord blood from 105 Turkish newborns showed low levels of plasma cholesterol ( ϳ 60 mg/dl) and HDL-C ( ϳ 30 mg/dl), consistent with results from other Western ethnic groups. Prepubescent 8-to 10-year-old Turkish boys and girls of upper (n ‫؍‬ 82) and lower (n ‫؍‬ 143) SES had high HDL-C levels (50-60 mg/dl) similar to those of western European children. However, the cholesterol (154-158 mg/dl) and HDL-C (55-58 mg/dl) levels of upper SES children were ϳ 25 and ϳ 12 mg/dl higher, respectively, than those of lower SES children. Height, weight, skinfold thickness, and estimated body fat were greater in the upper SES children and appeared to reflect dietary differences. Upper SES children consumed more total fat ( ϳ 35% vs. 25% of total calories), including more saturated fat of animal origin, and less carbohydrate ( ϳ 50% vs. 62% of total calories), consistent with their elevated plasma cholesterol levels. Carbohydrate intake correlated inversely with the HDL-C level. The HDL-C levels in the prepubescent children, especially those of higher SES, who consumed diets more like western Europeans, decreased markedly to adult levels, with males exhibiting a ϳ 20 mg/dl decrease (from 58 to 37 mg/dl) and females a ϳ 13 mg/dl decrease (from 55 to 42 mg/dl). SES did not affect HDL-C levels in adults.

Research paper thumbnail of Risk determination of dyslipidemia in populations characterized by low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

American Heart Journal, 2003

Current guidelines for managing dyslipidemia qualify patients for treatment based on low-density ... more Current guidelines for managing dyslipidemia qualify patients for treatment based on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and other risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). However, when LDL-C is the sole lipid criterion for initiating therapy, patients with levels below the treatment initiation threshold who are at high risk because of low levels (<40 mg/dL) of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) might not be identified. Twenty percent of male patients with CHD in the United States fall into this category. The total cholesterol/HDL-C (TC/HDL-C) ratio predicts CHD risk regardless of the absolute LDL-C and HDL-C. We compared guidelines based on TC/HDL-C and LDL-C with those recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Both sets of guidelines were applied to 9837 adults (>20 years of age) in the Turkish Heart Study, which has shown that 75% of men and 50% of women in Turkey have HDL-C <40 mg/dL. ATP III guidelines identified 14% of Turkish adults, 20 years or older, as candidates for lifestyle treatment only and an additional 18% for drug treatment. In conjunction with ATP III LDL-C thresholds, the TC/HDL-C ratio (>3.5, patients with CHD; > or =6.0, 2+ risk factors, > or =7.0, 0 to 1 risk factor) assigned lifestyle therapy alone to 18% and drug treatment to an additional 36%. Among primary prevention subjects at high risk because of age (men > or =45 years; women > or =55 years), both sets of guidelines prescribed lifestyle therapy for only 5%; however, drug treatment was recommended for an additional 13% by ATP III guidelines and an additional 18% by TC/HDL-C and LDL-C. In populations at risk for CHD caused by low HDL-C, qualification of subjects for treatment based on either the TC/HDL-C ratio or LDL-C thresholds identifies more high-risk subjects for treatment than LDL-C threshold values alone, and use of the ratio, instead of risk tables, simplifies the approach for physicians.

Research paper thumbnail of Plasma lipids in Turkish children: impact of puberty, socioeconomic status, and nutrition on plasma cholesterol and HDL

In Turkish adults, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are 10-15 mg/dl lower than those of adults in w... more In Turkish adults, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are 10-15 mg/dl lower than those of adults in western Europe and the United States. In this study, we determined whether HDL-C levels in Turks are low from birth to adulthood and assessed the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Analyses of cord blood from 105 Turkish newborns showed low levels of plasma cholesterol ( ϳ 60 mg/dl) and HDL-C ( ϳ 30 mg/dl), consistent with results from other Western ethnic groups. Prepubescent 8-to 10-year-old Turkish boys and girls of upper (n ‫؍‬ 82) and lower (n ‫؍‬ 143) SES had high HDL-C levels (50-60 mg/dl) similar to those of western European children. However, the cholesterol (154-158 mg/dl) and HDL-C (55-58 mg/dl) levels of upper SES children were ϳ 25 and ϳ 12 mg/dl higher, respectively, than those of lower SES children. Height, weight, skinfold thickness, and estimated body fat were greater in the upper SES children and appeared to reflect dietary differences. Upper SES children consumed more total fat ( ϳ 35% vs. 25% of total calories), including more saturated fat of animal origin, and less carbohydrate ( ϳ 50% vs. 62% of total calories), consistent with their elevated plasma cholesterol levels. Carbohydrate intake correlated inversely with the HDL-C level. The HDL-C levels in the prepubescent children, especially those of higher SES, who consumed diets more like western Europeans, decreased markedly to adult levels, with males exhibiting a ϳ 20 mg/dl decrease (from 58 to 37 mg/dl) and females a ϳ 13 mg/dl decrease (from 55 to 42 mg/dl). SES did not affect HDL-C levels in adults.