AI Insight
This cross-sectional study of 28,882 Korean adults compared three equations used to estimate LDL cholesterol levels against direct measurements across different drinking categories. The research found that all estimation equations became less accurate with heavier alcohol consumption and higher triglyceride levels, with the Sampson equation performing best overall and the Martin-Hopkins equation showing superior accuracy at very high triglyceride levels (≥400 mg/dL). Binge drinkers showed consistent underestimation of LDL cholesterol across all three equations, particularly at elevated triglyceride levels.
Why it matters
Accurate LDL cholesterol estimation is critical for cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment decisions. This study provides evidence-based guidance for clinicians to select the most appropriate estimation equation based on patient drinking patterns and triglyceride levels, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy in populations with heavy alcohol consumption.
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⚠️ Preprint – Noch nicht peer-reviewed
Dieser Artikel wurde noch nicht von unabhängigen Experten begutachtet. Die Ergebnisse sind vorläufig und sollten mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden.
High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels are associated with heavy alcohol consumption, but the accuracy of LDL-C estimation equations according to drinking status remains unclear. We analyzed direct LDL-C and drinking-status data from 28,882 participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, classified as non/ex-drinkers, moderate drinkers, or binge drinkers. Mean absolute deviation (MAD) was calculated for the Friedewald, Martin-Hopkins, and Sampson equations relative to directly measured LDL-C, and 95% confidence intervals for the median absolute deviation (MeAD) were determined by TG level. Estimation error increased with heavier alcohol consumption and higher TG level. In binge drinkers, all three equations underestimated LDL-C, with the largest deviation at higher TG levels. The Sampson equation showed the lowest MAD and MeAD across drinking categories and TG strata and was most accurate at a TG level of 150-400 mg/dL, whereas the Martin-Hopkins equation was more accurate at TG levels of [≥]400 mg/dL. The Sampson or Martin-Hopkins equation estimates LDL-C more accurately than the Friedewald equation regardless of drinking status and should be preferred, with the choice further individualized by TG level in heavy drinkers.