The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background The non-HDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (NHHR) is a novel composite lipid index. However, its relationship with mortality, particularly in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the association be...

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Main Authors: Lisha Yang, Jingwen Li, Yilian Xie, Guoqing Qian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03873-4
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author Lisha Yang
Jingwen Li
Yilian Xie
Guoqing Qian
author_facet Lisha Yang
Jingwen Li
Yilian Xie
Guoqing Qian
author_sort Lisha Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The non-HDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (NHHR) is a novel composite lipid index. However, its relationship with mortality, particularly in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the association between NHHR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults with NAFLD in the United States. Methods This study included 12,648 adult participants with NAFLD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (1999–2018). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods were employed to assess all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analyses were performed to verify the consistency of these associations. Results Over a median follow-up of 99.27 months, 1,659 participants died from all causes, including 460 from cardiovascular disease. RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between NHHR and all-cause mortality, no association was found between NHHR and cardiovascular mortality. The inflection points for all-cause mortality were 2.67. Subgroup analysis showed that a stronger association between NHHR and all-cause mortality in those with diabetes(P = 0.048). Conclusions NHHR is associated with all-cause mortality in NAFLD patients, with distinct non-linear relationships, while it is not associated with cardiovascular mortality. NHHR monitoring may be valuable for assessing mortality risk, particularly in those with diabetes.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-74d6eefd238a4e85a6f1deaad66cf8b42025-08-20T03:14:06ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-04-0125111210.1186/s12876-025-03873-4The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort studyLisha Yang0Jingwen Li1Yilian Xie2Guoqing Qian3Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityAbstract Background The non-HDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (NHHR) is a novel composite lipid index. However, its relationship with mortality, particularly in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the association between NHHR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults with NAFLD in the United States. Methods This study included 12,648 adult participants with NAFLD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (1999–2018). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods were employed to assess all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analyses were performed to verify the consistency of these associations. Results Over a median follow-up of 99.27 months, 1,659 participants died from all causes, including 460 from cardiovascular disease. RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between NHHR and all-cause mortality, no association was found between NHHR and cardiovascular mortality. The inflection points for all-cause mortality were 2.67. Subgroup analysis showed that a stronger association between NHHR and all-cause mortality in those with diabetes(P = 0.048). Conclusions NHHR is associated with all-cause mortality in NAFLD patients, with distinct non-linear relationships, while it is not associated with cardiovascular mortality. NHHR monitoring may be valuable for assessing mortality risk, particularly in those with diabetes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03873-4NHHRNAFLDNHANESMortalityCardiovascular disease
spellingShingle Lisha Yang
Jingwen Li
Yilian Xie
Guoqing Qian
The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study
BMC Gastroenterology
NHHR
NAFLD
NHANES
Mortality
Cardiovascular disease
title The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study
title_full The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study
title_fullStr The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study
title_short The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in United States adults with NAFLD: a prospective cohort study
title_sort non high density lipoprotein cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in united states adults with nafld a prospective cohort study
topic NHHR
NAFLD
NHANES
Mortality
Cardiovascular disease
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03873-4
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