Circulating PCSK9 concentrations are increased in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome

Background: High PCSK9 concentrations are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated PCSK9 concentrations and their association with metabolic parameters in Thai subjects and to compare PCSK9 concentrations in pre- and postmenopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Anthropometric data, serum lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and PCSK9 concentrations were measured in 436 Thai subjects (152 men, 143 premenopausal, and 141 postmenopausal women). Results: PCSK9 concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men (p = .002) and increased in subjects with an increasing number of MetS components (p for trend = .011). PCSK9 concentrations were significantly higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (p < .001), in the MetS group than in the non-MetS group (p = .037), and in postmenopausal women with MetS than in premenopausal women without MetS (p < .001). Serum PCSK9 concentrations were positively correlated with several metabolic parameters, including age, BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, and FBG. Conclusion: PCSK9 concentrations are influenced by age, gender, MetS status, and menopausal status among Thai subjects. These findings suggest that an elevation in PCSK9 concentrations may increase cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women with MetS.