Major Lipids and Future Risk of Pneumonia: 20 year Observation of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study Cohort

Plasma lipid levels have long been studied in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease1. However, there is increasing evidence that plasma lipids and lipoproteins also play important roles in host immunity2-4. Patients with bacterial, viral and parasitic infections have altered plasma lipid levels5-7, and the degree of alteration in lipid levels correlates with the severity of the infection8, 9. Studies in patients with active infection demonstrate suppressed high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol concentrations, whereas triglyceride levels are increased10,11.