Hellenic Postprandial Lipemia Study (HPLS): A Prospective Cohort Trial on the Effect of Statins on Postprandial Hypertriglyceridemia

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Both fasting and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The Hellenic Postprandial Lipemia Study (HPLS, NCT02163044) is the largest prospective cohort trial assessing the effects of statin therapy on postprandial lipemia. METHODS: Individuals at high or very high risk for ASCVD were evaluated, and their characteristics were recorded at baseline (Visit 1). At Visit 2 (2-4 weeks after Visit 1) and Visit 3 (3-4 months after Visit 2), serum triglyceride (TG) levels were measured after a 12-hour fast (fTG) as well as 4 hours after the ingestion of a commercially available oral fat tolerance test meal (pTG). After Visit 2, all individuals were treated with a statin. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Among 900 participants, 699 completed all 3 visits, and of these, 209 (29.9%) had an abnormal pTG response. The mean (standard deviation, SD) total- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were 225 (50) and 148 (46) mg/dL at Visit 1, 231 (42) and 156 (40) mg/dL at Visit 2, and 171 (28) and 101 (27) mg/dL at Visit 3. At Visit 2, the mean fTG level was 127 (45) mg/dL and pTG was 188 (73) mg/dL with a mean difference of 58 mg/dL (P