[RESULTS] After multivariable adjustment , inverse associations with AF were observed ( hazard ratio , 95 % confidence interval for top versus bottom quintile , P value ) for LDL cholesterol ( 0.72 , 0.56-0 .92 , P = 0.009 ) , the total number of LDL particles ( 0.77 , 0.60-0 .99 , P = 0.045 ) , and very-low-density lipoprotein particles ( 0.78 , 0.61-0 .99 , P = 0.04 ) , which was driven by the number of cholesterol-poor small LDL ( 0.78 , 0.61-1 .00 , P = 0.05 ) and small very-low-density lipoprotein particles ( 0.78 , 0.62-0 .99 , P = 0.04 ) .