*4.2. Determination of Plasma Lipid Profiles and Atherogenic Index (AI)*

All blood samples were collected from patients in the early morning after an overnight fast for 12 h. Plasma levels of TC, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C were measured by using enzymatic methods with a chemistry analyzer (Hitachi 7600, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The AI (i.e., the ratio of TC /HDL-C) was calculated.

#### *4.3. Measurement of 10-Year Risk of CVD Including QRISK-2 Score*

Global 10-year risk for a heart attack or stroke was estimated by calculating the QRISK-2 scores [41] on the website: https://www.qrisk.org. Briefly, factors including age, sex, ethnicity, physical characteristics, total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio, self-reported smoking status, diabetic status, the presence of chronic kidney disease, and family history of heart disease were considered in determining the QRISK-2 score.
