Atherosclerosis has been correlated with known cardiovascular risk factors such as serum
glucose or
lipid levels. Because
congenital heart disease patients tend to survive until adulthood,
atherosclerosis has also become a matter of concern in these patients. One hundred fifty-eight
congenital heart disease patients and 152 patients selected at random from the population were studied and compared to determine serum
glucose, total
cholesterol,
low-density lipoprotein (
LDL) cholesterol,
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and
triglycerides levels. Both groups had similar socioeconomic status levels and the same environmental influences. Significant differences were seen between
congenital heart disease patients and the control group, after sex, age, and body mass index adjustment, in fasting plasma
glucose (97.7 [94.2-101.2] vs 86.9 [83.2-90.7], P < .001), total
cholesterol (171.5 [165.7-177.3] vs 199.8 [90.7-206.0], P < .001),
LDL cholesterol (103.9 [98.8-108.8] vs 123.8 [118.5-129.1], P < .001), and
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (48.1 [46.2-50.0] vs 54.2 [52.1-56.2], P < .001) levels. Nonsignificant differences were seen in
triglycerides concentrations. Those patients with
ventricular septal defect,
coarctation of the aorta, and
cyanosis had the lowest total
cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol concentrations.
Congenital heart disease patients have lower plasma
cholesterol concentrations and higher serum
glucose levels than noncongenital ones.