The prevalence rates of xanthelasma and
corneal arcus were computed for normolipidemic and dyslipoproteinemic participants in the
Lipid Research Clinics population surveys. The prevalence of both xanthelasma and
corneal arcus increased with age, was highest in persons with type II phenotype, and usually low in those with type IV phenotype. The relative effects of age and use of
gonadal hormones were different in the two lesions. Both xanthelasma and
corneal arcus were associated with increased levels of plasma
cholesterol and
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (
LDL-C), especially in young males. In general, persons with either lesion had increased odds of having type IIa
dyslipoproteinemia but decreased odds of having type IV. Xanthelasma and
corneal arcus were highly associated with each other, especially in young people. There was no consistent univariate association of xanthelasma and
corneal arcus with smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure,
obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of
ischemic heart disease, or
glucose and
uric acid plasma concentrations. Adjusted odds ratios for
ischemic heart disease in participants with xanthelasma and
corneal arcus were generally increased, except in older female nonusers of
gonadal hormones, in whom they were significantly decreased. Neither xanthelasma nor
corneal arcus showed a consistent association with manifestations of
peripheral arterial disease. Thus the clinical findings of xanthelasma or
corneal arcus, especially in young people, seem to identify persons with plasma
lipoprotein abnormalities.