Table 2

Baseline characteristics of overall and ultrasound cohort

Overall cohort (n=439)
(15-year follow-up)
Ultrasound subcohort (n=212)
(11-year follow-up)
SpousesUnaffected relativesFCHL patientsSpousesUnaffected relativesFCHL patients
Male/female, n51/5998/14744/4029/3062/4926/16
Age, years46±1339±13*48±1348±1141±14*53±13
BMI, kg/m225.2±3.625.0±3.927.8±3.9†25.4±4.125.7±4.327.8±3.8†
Waist, cm90±1188±1298±11†91.1±13.090.5±11.798.9±8.7†
SAT-US, cm2.5±1.12.5±1.23.1±1.0†
VAT-US, cm7.6±2.47.4±2.4†9.0±2.1†
Systolic BP, mm Hg131±19129±18138±20†127±18131±17†140±16†
Diastolic BP, mm Hg83±1183±1188±10†83±1184±1089±9†
Total cholesterol, mmol/L5.3±1.05.2±1.16.9±1.1†5.4±0.95.4±1.76.9±1.1†
HDL cholesterol, mmol/L1.1±0.21.0±0.20.9±0.2†1.1±0.31.0±0.3†0.9±0.2†
LDL cholesterol, mmol/L3.7±1.03.6±1.14.8±1.1†3.7±0.93.6±1.25.0±1.1†
Triglycerides, mmol/L1.0 (0.8–1.5)1.1 (0.9–1.4)2.3 (1.8–2.8)†1.2 (0.8–1.7)1.1 (0.9–1.6)†2.0 (1.8–2.9)†
Apolipoprotein B, g/L1.0±0.21.0±0.21.5±0.3†1.0±0.31.0±0.31.4±0.2†
Lipid-modifying drug, n (%)3 (3)21 (9)†38 (45)†2 (3)17 (15)†19 (46)†
Glucose, mmol/L4.9±0.54.8±0.55.3±0.7†4.9±0.54.9±0.55.3±0.6†
HOMA2-IR0.5 (0.3–0.9)0.6 (0.5–0.9)1.0 (0.7–1.6)†0.7 (0.3–1.2)0.8 (0.3–1.2)1.3 (0.9–1.9)†
Alcohol intake, U/week4.0 (0.5–10.0)3.8 (0.5–10.0)5.0 (0.5–10.0)6.0 (0–12.0)8.0 (1.0–14.0)4.0 (0.4–14.0)
ALT, U/L17 (12–23)17 (12–23)25 (18–35)†17 (13–23)17 (13–24)22 (19–29)†
Fatty liver‡, n (%)24 (22)50 (21)51 (61)†10 (17)32 (29)†22 (52)†
  • Data are presented as absolute numbers, mean±SD, or median (IQR).

  • *P<0.05 versus spouses, analysed with a Student’s T-test.

  • †P<0.05 versus spouses, analysed with linear regression with adjustment for age and sex.

  • ‡Determined by the fatty liver index ≥60 (overall cohort) or ultrasound (ultrasound subcohort).

  • ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; FCHL, familial combined hyperlipidemia; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HOMA2-IR, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; SAT-US, subcutaneous adipose tissue determined by ultrasound; VAT-US, visceral adipose tissue determined by ultrasound.