Observational studies have shown that LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG levels might be associated with some autoimmune disorders and some idiosyncratic adverse events. Due to limitations of existing evidence, however, the role of blood lipids in non-cardiovascular diseases is still questioned. This observational study aims to examine the associations between LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, and the incidence of all-cause mortality, and of diverse non-cardiovascular diseases, including cataract, age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Use of linked-data from hospital and GP records will allow us to investigate the full spectrum of blood lipids levels. We will include the population without pre-existing disease of interest whose blood lipids measurement was available during 1998 to 2018, and we will follow them up until the first presentation of disease of interest, death, or transfer out of the practice, whichever occurred first. Hazard ratios of the incidence of disease for each unit change in blood lipids will be calculated using time-dependent Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for potential confounders. We will also examine the role of age, gender as effect modifiers. The findings of this study will allow the investigator to conduct further research to understand more about the role of blood lipids in non-cardiovascular diseases.
Incidence of all-cause and cause-specific mortality and 12 non-cardiovascular diseases as follows: cataract, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Harry Hemingway - Chief Investigator - University College London ( UCL )
Nat Na-Ek - Corresponding Applicant - Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research
Amitava Banerjee - Collaborator - University College London ( UCL )
Arturo Gonzalez-Izquierdo - Collaborator - University College London ( UCL )
Spiros Denaxas - Collaborator - University College London ( UCL )
HES Admitted Patient Care;ONS Death Registration Data;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation