Association between oxidized low-density lipoprotein and cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke

Eur J Neurol. 2018 Jan;25(1):185-191. doi: 10.1111/ene.13497. Epub 2017 Nov 17.

Abstract

Background and purpose: The association between oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and cognitive impairment is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between oxLDL and cognitive impairment among patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We measured the levels of oxLDL and recorded the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in patients with acute ischemic stroke who were recruited from the Study of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke. Cognitive impairment was defined as an MMSE score of <24. The association between oxLDL and cognitive impairment was assessed by multivariate logistic or linear regression analysis. Other clinical variables of interest were also studied.

Results: A total of 3726 patients [1287 (34.54%) female] were included in this study, with a mean age of 63.62 ± 11.96 years. After adjusting for potential confounders in our logistic regression model, each SD increase in oxLDL was associated with a 26% increase in the prevalence of cognitive impairment (odds radio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.39; P < 0.0001). Similarly, higher oxLDL was associated with lower MMSE scores, with a 0.56-point decrease in MMSE score for every SD increase in oxLDL in a linear regression analysis (β = -0.56; 95% confidence interval, -0.81 to -0.32; P < 0.0001). There were no significant interactions between oxLDL and age, sex or education levels for cognitive impairment (all interactions, P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Elevated levels of oxLDL were associated with a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke.

Keywords: cognitive impairment; ischemic stroke; oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Ischemia / blood*
  • Brain Ischemia / complications*
  • Brain Ischemia / psychology
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cognition Disorders / classification*
  • Cognition Disorders / complications
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood*
  • Male
  • Mental Status and Dementia Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Stroke / blood*
  • Stroke / complications*
  • Stroke / psychology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein