High Serum Atherogenicity and the Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence sustained that lipid disorders may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and its cardiovascular complications. Objective: The purpose of the study was to establish the correlation between lipid changes and atherogenic index in diabetes patients and to evaluate its utility as risk predictor. MethodsThe research was done on 69 senescent patients: 41 diabetes mellitus vs. 28 healthy control patients. Serum atherogenicity was assessed by atherogenic index, computed as log (TG/HDL), and the atherogenic risk was estimated in 3 categories: low, medium and high. ResultsData revealed an increase of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol and a decrease of HDL-cholesterol at diabetes patients vs. control. Also, we noticed a significant increase of atherogenic index (p<0.0001) in diabetes patients vs. control. Prevalence of dyslipidemia at diabetes patients increased from 28.57% in the low risk atherogenic index group to 73.91% in the high risk atherogenic index group. Linear regression equation revealed that non-HDL-cholesterol is positively correlated with glucose (p<0.05) and atherogenic index (p<0.0001). Diagnostic test evaluation for atherogenic index indicated: 72.79% assay accuracy, 82.93% sensitivity, 57.14% specificity and relative risk estimate=2.42. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with high atherogenic index had 6.47-fold risk for diabetes [OR 6.47, 95% CI: 2.14-19.56; p=0.0009]. Conclusion: Besides routine lipid panels, as alternative method to assess dyslipidemia, diabetes and its cardiovascular events, atherogenic index should be used as a good risk predictor. Also, non-HDL-cholesterol should be taking into account in guidelines and management of diabetes.