Association between the non-HDL-cholesterol to HDL- cholesterol ratio and abdominal aortic aneurysm from a Chinese screening program

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) can result in high mortality upon rupture but are usually undiagnosed because of the absence of symptoms in the early stage. Ultrasound screening is regarded as an impactful way to prevent the AAA-related death but cannot be performed efficiently; therefore, a target population, especially in Asia, for this procedure is lacking. Additionally, although dyslipidaemia and atherosclerosis are associated with AAA. However, it remains undetermined whether the non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (NHHR) is associated with AAA. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining whether NHHR is associated with AAA. METHOD: A total of 9559 participants who underwent AAA screening at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital and through screening in two communities in Dongguan, from June 2019 to June 2021 joined in this screening program. The diagnosis of AAA was confirmed by the ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta rather than any known or suspected AAA. Clinical and laboratory data of participants were collected. The participants were separated into a normal group and an AAA group according to the abdominal aortic status. To eliminate confounding factors, a propensity score matching (PSM) approach was utilized. The independent relationship between NHHR and AAA was assessed through the utilization of multivariable logistic regression analysis. In addition, internal consistency was evaluated through subgroup analysis, which controlled for significant risk factors. RESULTS: Of all the participants, 219 (2.29%) participants were diagnosed with AAA. A significant elevation in NHHR was identified in the AAA group when contrasted with that in the normal group (P < 0.001). As demonstrated by the results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis, AAA was independently associated with NHHR before (odds ratio [OR], 1.440, P < 0.001) and after PSM (OR, 1.515, P < 0.001). Significant extension was observed in the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of NHHR compared to those of single lipid parameters before and after PSM. An accordant association between NHHR and AAA in different subgroups was demonstrated by subgroup analysis. CONCLUSION: In the Chinese population, there is an independent association between NHHR and AAA. NHHR might be propitious to distinguish individuals with high risk of AAA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-023-01939-4.