Atherogenic Indices as Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Risk in Obesity

In the present study, we analyzed the associations of anthropometric indices, lipids and atherogenic indices, in obese subjects. The diagnostic utility of the atherogenic indices was examined to assess the cardiovascular risk in the obese subjects. Major cause of dyslipidemia is obesity, which is becoming a major health problem and is found to be prevalent in both developed and in developing countries.A prospective case control study was conducted which included subjects who attended outpatient department of obesity clinic and their accompanying attendants and the staff of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, India.

The dyslipidemia observed in the findings of the ICMR-INDIAB study found 13.9% of the population had hypercholesterolemia, 29.5% had hypertriglyceridemia, 72.3% had low HDL-C, 11.8% had high LDL-C levels and 79% had abnormalities in one of the lipid parameters. Low HDL-C was the most common lipid abnormality and in 44.9% of the population studied, it was present as an isolated abnormality.

Comparing cases and controls revealed significantly lower HDL, elevated non-HDL cholesterol, CRI-I, II, and AC levels. BMI significantly correlated negatively with HDL and favourably with anthropometric measurements, total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and atherogenic indices. All the atherogenic indices were related to TC and HDL. With cut off values of 3.85 and 2.85, respectively, CRI-I and AC have greater sensitivity and specificity. CRI-I and CRI-II also have significant diagnostic utility. Lowered HDL levels with elevated atherogenic indices in obesity are indicative of cardiovascular risk and can hence be considered as a cost effective alternate in assessing CVD risk.