Abstract MP034: Adiponectin Concentrations are Inversely Associated with Risk of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Men

Abstract

Background: Lower concentrations of adiponectin have been linked to the development of occlusive coronary events in otherwise healthy individuals. Whether similar relationships exist for the development of systemic atherosclerosis, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is unknown. Methods: We used data from a prospective, nested case-control study among 18,225 male participants of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study aged 40 to 75 years who were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at the time of blood draw (1993–1995). During 14 years of follow-up through January 31, 2008, 143 men developed PAD. Using risk set sampling, controls were selected in a 3:1 ratio matched for age, date of blood draw, fasting status and smoking status (n=429). We used conditional logistic regression models to assess PAD risk. Results: Higher adiponectin concentrations were associated with a lower risk of PAD (Odds ratio [OR] per SD increase 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45–0.75) after controlling for pack-years of smoking, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, family history of myocardial infarction, aspirin use, body mass index and physical activity. Additional adjustment for low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations attenuated the association (OR per SD increase, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54–0.95). Further adjustment for hemoglobin A 1c , triglyceride, and gamma-glutamyltransferase concentrations did not alter the results. A log-linear inverse dose-response relationship was evident over the full spectrum of total adiponectin concentrations ( P trend =0.02; Figure). Conclusion: Total adiponectin concentrations are inversely associated with risk of PAD in otherwise healthy men. This relationship can only partly be explained by cholesterol and C-reactive protein concentrations and is independent of triglycerides and glycemic status. Figure legend: Dose-Response Relationship between Total Adiponectin Concentrations and Odds Ratio of PAD.