Relationship of High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Renal Function in Patients Treated With Atorvastatin

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether the concentration of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is related to renal function in statin‐treated patients. We therefore investigated whether HDL cholesterol levels predicted renal function in atorvastatin‐treated patients in the TNT (Treating to New Targets) trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 9542 participants were included in this analysis. Renal function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). HDL cholesterol levels at month 3 were used as this is the time point at which on‐treatment HDL cholesterol levels became stable. Among 6319 participants with a normal eGFR (≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) at baseline, higher HDL cholesterol levels at month 3 were significantly associated with lower risk of decline in eGFR (ie, having eGFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) during follow‐up (HR of 1.04, 0.88, 0.85, and 0.77 for HDL cholesterol quintiles 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively, relative to quintile 1, P for trend=0.006). Among 3223 participants with an eGFR (<60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) at baseline, higher HDL cholesterol levels at month 3 had less impact on eGFR during follow‐up, with statistical significance observed only when analyzing HDL cholesterol levels as a continuous variable (P=0.043), but not as a categorical quintile variable (P for trend=0.27). CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated with atorvastatin, higher HDL cholesterol levels were associated with lower risk of eGFR decline in patients with normal eGFR at baseline. However, further study is needed to establish whether there is any causal relationship between HDLs and renal function. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00327691.