Low HDL-C levels may heighten risk of acromegaly

Individuals with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels face an increased risk of acromegaly, according to a large retrospective study from Korea.

Researchers used data from the National Health Insurance Services in Korea. They looked at 9,876,423 adults without pre-existing acromegaly, who participated in the national health screening in 2009, and followed up until 2019.

Low HDL-C was defined as concentrations below 40 mg/dL for men or below 50 mg/dL for women. The risk of acromegaly was also evaluated according to HDL-C levels in 10 mg/dL intervals.

Over a median follow-up period of 9.2 years, 459 participants received a diagnosis of acromegaly, with a corresponding incidence rate of 4.6 cases per 100,000 people.

In regression models, low HDL-C levels were associated with a 45-percent increased risk of acromegaly compared with high HDL-levels (hazard ratio [HR], 1.45, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.19–1.78). The analysis was adjusted for potential confounding variables, including total cholesterol levels and the use of lipid-lowering medication.

Additionally, a dose-dependent association between HDL-C levels and acromegaly risk was observed when HDL-C levels were categorized into four 10-mg/dL intervals. The highest risk was observed in the lowest HDL-C category (grade 4), with a 78-percent risk increase (HR, 1.78, 95 percent CI, 1.30–2.43).