Association of Lipoprotein(a) and hsCRP Levels with Metabolic Syndrome and its Components

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) deserve more clinical attention being the primary clinical outcome of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Indians are highly predisposed to MetS, insulin resistance and CVDs. The traditional and unconventional risk factors in circulation could prove to be of immense value in further CVD risk stratification. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) are among the emerging risk factors in the development of CVDs. But there is a dearth of such studies in Gujarat. Therefore the current study attempts to evaluate the levels of Lp(a) and hs-CRP in MetS and its components in population of Jamnagar district, Gujarat. This cross-sectional study comprised 222 subjects of both genders attending OPD and IPD of Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital, Jamnagar. The modified NCEP ATPIII criteria were used to diagnose participants with MetS. Various anthropometric measurements were recorded as per standard protocol. 5 ml overnight fasting blood samples were collected for the analyses of various biochemical parameters. A significantly higher BMI, W/H ratio, systolic & diastolic BP (SBP & DBP) and lipid profile were observed in MetS. The association between the presence of MetS and Lp(a) was found to be significant (χ2 = 26.60; p < 0.0001). Elevated fasting blood glucose presented with the highest risk of causing an elevation in Lp(a) levels (OR = 2.369; CI = 1.087, 5.163; p = 0.03) in this study on multivariate regression analysis. Multivariate analysis also showed hs-CRP as a strong risk factor (OR = 3.18; CI = 1.236, 8.217; p = 0.016) for developing MetS. Thus Lp(a) and hs-CRP investigations are recommended in MetS subjects for defining preventive strategies against future coronary events.