Objective: To investigate the relationship between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection and dyslipidemia.
Methods: ELISA was used to detect the specific IgG to HSV-2 in the samples of peripheral blood collected in succession from 1 244 inpatients, 408 with dyslipidemia and 836 controls without dyslipidemia. Univariate and multivariate analyses were preformed.
Results: No significant differences were found in sex and smoking status between the patients with and without dyslipidemia (both P > 0.05). However, the body mass index was significantly higher in the patients with dyslipidemia than in those without dyslipidemia (24.9 +/- 6.6 vs 23.9 +/- 7.6, P = 0.001). Diabetes and hypertension were more frequently found in patients with dyslipidemia in comparison with those without dyslipidemia (both P < 0.05). The prevalence of HSV-2 IgG seropositivity was significantly higher in the patients with dyslipidemia than those without dyslipidemia (38.2% vs 30.6%, P = 0.007). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed an association of HSV-2 IgG seropositivity with dyslipidemia, after adjustment for confoundings, the odds ratio for dyslipidemia was 1.34 (95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.72; P = 0.025) for HSV-2 IgG seropositivity. Other traditional risk factors, body mass index [adjusted OR 1.03 (1.01 - 1.05), P = 0.002], hypertension [adjusted OR 1.39 (1.09 - 1.79), P = 0.008] and diabetes [adjusted OR 1.50 (1.05 - 2.15), P = 0.028].
Conclusion: HSV-2 infection is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia, and HSV-2 infection may increase the risk of dyslipidemia.