Search Results (29)

Background: Asymptomatic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) occurs in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, particularly among the elderly. Aim: This study aimed to identify diastolic function changes over a 52-week follow-up and the predictive factors for LVDD in T2DM patients without atherosclerotic manifestations. Methods: Diastolic function, metabolic profile, atherogenic indexes, and subclinical inflammatory markers were assessed at baseline and after one year in 138 T2DM outpatients. All variables were compared in patients with and without LVDD across three age groups. Results: The patients were 57.86 ± 8.82 years old, 49.3% male, with a mean 5-year diabetes duration and a median HbA_1c of 7.8%. At baseline, 71 patients had grade 1 LVDD, 12 had grade 2 and 3 LVDD, and 15 had indeterminate LVDD. In the elderly group, 29 patients had LVDD. The logistic regression analysis identified age over 65 as an independent risk factor for LVDD (Exp B = 9.85, 95% CI: 1.29–75.36, p = 0.027). LVDD patients had a longer diabetes duration and a higher prevalence of diabetic neuropathy. Elderly patients had the lowest E/A, e’, lateral s’, atherogenic and Castelli risk indexes, and significantly higher E/e’, EDT, LAVI and TNF-alpha values (p < 0.05). After 52 weeks, diastolic function worsened in 27 patients, who had no significant differences compared to those with stable or improved diastolic function. Conclusions: LVDD was common in our T2DM patients without known cardiovascular disease, and age increases the LVDD risk. Echocardiographic assessment is necessary, especially in elderly T2DM patients with co-morbidities, to identify patients at risk of progression to heart failure early. Full article

Background and Objectives: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening cardiovascular condition with high mortality rates, necessitating accurate and early risk assessment to optimize patient outcomes. While traditional lipid markers, such as low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), are widely used, non-traditional lipid indices, including the lipoprotein combined index (LCI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic index (AI), Castelli risk indices (CRI-I, CRI-II), and atherogenic combined index (ACI) may offer additional prognostic insights by reflecting the underlying atherogenic and inflammatory processes. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of these non-traditional lipid indices, along with traditional lipid and biochemical markers, for in-hospital mortality in ACS patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed data from ACS patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) between January 2019 and September 2024. A cohort of 920 patients was divided into survivor (n = 823, 89.46%) and non-survivor (n = 97, 10.54%) groups based on in-hospital mortality outcomes. Demographic, hematological, biochemical, and lipid profile data, including traditional and non-traditional lipid indices, were collected. Separate logistic regression models were developed for each index, adjusting for demographic and clinical variables in order to assess the independent predictive power of each non-traditional lipid index. Results: Significant differences were observed between survivor and non-survivor groups in terms of age, c-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), and creatinine levels (all p-values < 0.05). While traditional lipid markers, such as LDL-C and HDL-C, showed limited predictive value, non-traditional lipid indices demonstrated stronger associations. The highest Exp (Beta) values were observed for the CRI-II, AI, and CRI-I. An ROC analysis further confirmed that the CRI-II, AI, and CRI-I had the highest AUC values, with pairwise comparisons underscoring the CRI-II’s superior accuracy. These findings suggest that non-traditional lipid indices predict atherogenic risk better than traditional markers alone. Conclusions: Non-traditional lipid indices, particularly the CRI-I and II, AI, LCI, ACI, and AIP, were found to be significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in ACS patients. These indices may provide additional prognostic value beyond traditional lipid parameters; however, further prospective studies are needed to confirm their clinical utility. These results underscore the importance of integrating non-traditional lipid indices into routine risk assessments to improve mortality predictions and inform targeted interventions in high-risk ACS patients. Full article

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and dyslipidemia is a critical, modifiable risk factor. Aim: We sought to evaluate the relationship between polymorphisms in CETP (rs3764261), APOA5 (rs662799), IL6 (rs1800796), and PON1 (Q192R) and lipid parameters, and to assess their contribution to dyslipidemia and overall cardiovascular risk in an urban cohort from Cauca, Colombia. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 304 participants aged 40–69 years were enrolled. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected, and genotyping was performed for the four target polymorphisms. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the sample, non-parametric tests to compare lipid levels by genotype, and multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of dyslipidemia. Results: Individuals with dyslipidemia exhibited significantly higher total cholesterol and VLDL levels, lower HDL levels, and an elevated Castelli II index compared with the non-dyslipidemia group. Although CETP genotype frequencies differed between groups, only the APOA5 rs662799 variant was significantly associated with increased VLDL levels, suggesting its potential role as a genetic biomarker of cardiovascular risk. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the interplay between metabolic factors and genetic variants in the pathogenesis of dyslipidemia. Notably, the APOA5 rs662799 polymorphism emerged as a key determinant of VLDL concentration, highlighting its promise for personalized cardiovascular risk stratification and management in this population. Full article

Objectives: This study aims to investigate cardiovascular disease markers in patients with schizophrenia and to contribute to the early indication of asymptomatic cardiovascular diseases in these patients. In our study, there are three groups: schizophrenia with negative symptoms (SCH-N), schizophrenia in remission (SCH-R), and a healthy control group (HC). In these groups, there were compared parameters such as lipid panel, Atherogenic Index (AIP), Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, Castelli Risk Index-1 (CRI-I), Castelli Risk Index-2 (CRI-II), and Atherogenic Coefficient (AC), which are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods: The participants of the study were from the HC group and schizophrenia patients aged between 18 and 65 who were followed up at the Psychiatry Clinic of Karaman Hospital. This cross-sectional case–control study consists of the SCH-N (n:20), the SCH-R (n:23), and the HC (n:21) groups. Those with cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory diseases, those with alcohol and substance addiction, those using drugs other than psychiatric drugs, and those lacking informed consent were excluded from the study. Patients in active psychotic episodes were also excluded from the study due to communication difficulties. All data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 package program in a computer environment. The conformity of continuous data to normal distribution was evaluated with normality test value, q-q plot, skewness, and kurtosis. For significant results in the ANOVA test, pairwise comparisons were conducted using the post hoc Bonferroni correction when variances were homogeneously distributed. Similarly, for significant results in the Kruskal–Wallis Test, pairwise comparisons were performed using the Dunn–Bonferroni test. In this study, values less than p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: When all groups were compared, the increase in the TGs, TyG index, AIP, CRI-I, CRI-II, and AC values in the SCH-R group compared to the HC group was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.015, p < 0.001; sequentially). Conclusions: This study revealed that cardiovascular risk markers in schizophrenia patients showed significant differences. In particular, the elevation in parameters such as TGs, TyG index, AIP, CRI-I, CRI-II, and AC indicates that schizophrenia patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is recommended that schizophrenia patients be closely monitored for cardiovascular risk factors and to intervene early. Full article

Background and Objective: Tuberculosis is one of the globally prevalent infectious diseases. Lipids play a crucial role in its development as well as in other diseases of the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular diseases significantly worsen the functional and vital prognosis of tuberculosis patients. The aim of the study was to assess the differences in lipid profile, glucose, and atherogenic markers between tuberculosis patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: The project involved 34 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and a control group (CG: n = 35). The following were assessed: total cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and glucose. Atherogenic indices: Castelli risk index I (CRI-I), Castelli risk index II (CRI-II), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and atherogenic coefficient (AC) were calculated from lipid profile parameters using appropriate formulas. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between CG and TB in the parameters CHOL, LDL and HDL (p < 0.001). Based on the calculated atherogenic indices CRI-I and AIP, people diagnosed with TB can be classified into the high cardiovascular risk group. By fitting the ROC curve, atherogenic indices were shown to be effective predictors of cardiovascular risk in people with tuberculosis. Conclusions: Atherogenic indices are useful markers for detecting cardiovascular disease in patients with tuberculosis and may help identify cardiovascular risks that might otherwise be missed. Full article

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is usually associated with the elderly, but an increase in its incidence has been recently reported among young people, including very young women. The aim of this study is to assess the associations between different clinical variables and the risk of early CAD and occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) during follow-up. Our cohort consists of women ≤40 years referred for coronary angiography due to suspicion of CAD; a nested case–control study was conducted among these patients. In total, 19,321 coronary angiographies were performed between 2006 and 2015, of which 2.6% were in patients ≤40 years old; 52 women were finally included. Family history of CAD was strongly associated with the early onset of the disease [OR 5.94, 95%CI (1.13–31.15); p = 0.035] in young women. The incidence of MACE was also associated with depression [HR 8.20 95%CI (1.03–65.17); p = 0.047] and Castelli Index [HR 11.49, 95%CI (1.40–94.51); p = 0.023]. Primary prevention focused on genetic analysis for high-risk women with a family history of CAD and secondary prevention, targeting a better cholesterol management and mental health assistance must be considered. Full article

Background/Objectives: Habitual dietary changes that could help reduce the potential consequences of excessive body mass, such as hyperlipidemia and increased cardiovascular disease risk, are needed. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a farmed-salmon-based dietary intervention on lipid profile parameters in young women with excessive body mass. Methods: The 8-week intervention involved 38 pair-matched women aged 18–30 years with excessive body weight defined as BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m². Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (200 g of smoked salmon weekly) or the control group. Lipid profile parameters (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TAG)), as well as atherogenic indices (Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Atherogenic Coefficient (AC), Cholesterol Index (Cholindex), Castelli Risk Index 1 (CRI-1), Castelli Risk Index 2 (CRI-2) and the TAG/HDL ratio) were assessed before, during, and after the intervention. Results: At baseline, 47% of participants had at least one of the lipid profile parameters outside the recommended range. No statistically significant differences were observed in the TC, HDL, non-HDL, LDL, or TAG concentrations or in the various atherogenic indices between the intervention and the control group after the 8-week-long intervention. However, differences in the change of the LDL concentration were noted, with a decrease of 8.2 ± 20.7 mg/dL in the intervention group compared to an increase of 9.5 ± 20.0 mg/dL in the control group (p = 0.011), as well as in the change of the Cholindex for which a median decrease of 4.4 mg/dL was noted in the intervention group, while a median increase of 0.8 mg/dL in the control group was observed (p = 0.040). Additionally, across participants with a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) greater than 0.5, an increase of 50.0 ± 68.3 mg/dL in the intervention group and a decrease of 8.6 ± 56.6 mg/dL in the control group was noted for the TAG concentration change (p = 0.040). Conclusions: Concerning the observed beneficial influence of increasing farmed salmon intake to the recommended fish-intake amounts on decreasing LDL and Cholindex in young women with excessive body weight after 8 weeks, it seems that such a diet alteration might be recommended for this group to decrease their risk of cardiovascular disease in the future. Nonetheless, regarding the diverse influence on TAG, further studies are needed to assess the influence of increasing the intake of fatty fish available on the market at present on human health. Full article

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an extruded whole-grain sorghum beverage containing L. paracasei on body composition, lipid profiles, and intestinal health in overweight and obese adults. (2) Methods: A chronic, single-blind randomized controlled pilot study was conducted with 30 volunteers allocated to three groups (n = 10/group): extruded sorghum beverage (ESB), extruded sorghum beverage with L. paracasei (ESPB), and control beverage (CB) (waxy maize starch). The chemical composition of the beverages was analyzed. Volunteers consumed the beverages for ten weeks at breakfast, along with individual dietary prescriptions. Body composition, biochemical markers, gastrointestinal symptoms, stool consistency, intestinal permeability, short-chain fatty acids, fecal pH, and stool L. paracasei DNA concentration were analyzed at the beginning and end of the intervention period. (3) Results: The ESB showed better composition than the CB, particularly in terms of resistant starch content, total phenolic compounds, condensed tannins, and antioxidant capacity. Both the ESB and the ESPB had an effect on body composition (estimated total visceral fat and waist volume), biochemical markers (Castelli index I), and intestinal health (Bristol scale, diarrhea score, valeric acid, and L. paracasei DNA concentration). No changes were observed in the CB group after the intervention. (4) Conclusions: Whole-grain sorghum beverages demonstrated good nutritional value, and consumption of these beverages, with or without L. paracasei, provided health benefits, including improvements in body composition, Castelli index I scores, and intestinal health, in overweight and obese adults. Full article

Background: The coexistence of obesity and low muscle strength—denoted dynapenic obesity (DO)—has been associated with an unhealthy metabolic profile and increased risk for metabolic syndrome. However, there is a lack on studies investigating if DO exhibits higher cardiometabolic risk than non-dynapenic obesity. Objectives: To assess if individuals with DO exhibit elevated cardiometabolic risk compared to non-dynapenic obesity. Methods: a cross-sectional study that analyzed the data of workers from a quaternary care hospital collected between November 2018 and March 2020. Participants were stratified into the following anthropometrical and peripheral muscle strength profiles: non-obese/non-dynapenic (NOND), non-obese/dynapenic (NOD), obese/non-dynapenic (OND), and obese dynapenic (OD). Cardiovascular risk was evaluated by Atherogenic Index (AI), Plasma Atherogenic Index (PAI), Hypertriglyceridemic Waist (HW), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Atherogenic Dyslipidemia (AD), Castelli Indices I and II, and Framingham Score (FS). Results: the OD group had significantly lower HDL compared to all others (p = 0.009), and despite exhibited lower prevalence of HW compared to OND (p < 0.01), a higher cardiometabolic risk compared to OND profile was observed assessing AI (p = 0.05), Castelli I (p < 0.05) and Castelli II (p < 0.05) scores. Conclusions: in the studied population, individuals with DO exhibit elevated cardiometabolic risk compared to other anthropometrical and peripheral muscle strength profiles. Full article

Background: Few studies have been undertaken to detect the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) in healthy populations (individuals auto-reported as healthy). These risk factors include high body mass index (BMI), high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), high systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), high uric acid and high Castelli’s risk index (CRI); this last is the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (TC/HDL-c). In addition, the correlations between CRFs and the biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) has not been explored in each sex. Aim: Therefore, this study aimed to determine sex differences in the abnormalities in blood and urine analyses, including CRFs and their correlation with CPR in a non-representative sample of healthy Mexican individuals. Results: A total of 238 subjects were included, 123 (51.7%) of whom were women. The main blood alterations detected were high serum lipids, including high total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and the CRI, which were higher in men than in women. The men’s samples had a higher frequency of hypertensives and pre-hypertensives than the women’s sample. The CRP showed positive significant correlations with the CRFs: BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, uric acid, and the CRI, with a higher correlation for BMI and WHR, and most of these correlations were higher in women than in men. Additionally, all these factors showed a positive correlation among them. Conclusion: In conclusion, the main alterations observed in blood are related to cardiovascular risk and were reported with a higher frequency in men when compared with women. This finding can be related to the higher values of WHR in this sex; additionally, the inflammatory marker CRP was more correlated with the cardiometabolic risk factors in women than in men, which suggests a different relationship between inflammation and cardiometabolic risk factors in each sex. Full article

Although vitamin D insufficiency has been correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), there are few data on the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and atherogenic indices predictive of CVD. This study investigated the relationship of vitamin D status with lipid profile and atherogenic indices in adult women in Morocco. Three hundred women aged 18 to 50 years from Meknes were included. Fasting 25(OH)D and lipid concentrations were assayed by a one-step electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay and an enzymatic method, respectively. Atherogenic indices (atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic coefficient (AC), non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C), Castelli risk indices I and II (CRI-I and II), and CHOLIndex (CI)) were calculated using conventional lipid parameters. Logistic regression models and operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used to assess the relationship of the variables and estimate the threshold of 25(OH)D levels associated with high atherogenic indices. 25(OH) D below 20 ng/mL was significantly associated with an enhanced risk of hypertriglyceridemia and elevated values of AIP, AC, non-HDL-C, and CRI-I with an OR (95% CI) of 4.904 (1.856–12.959), 3.637 (2.149–6.158), 3.589 (1.673–7.700), 2.074 (1.215–3.540), and 2.481 (1.481–4.123), respectively. According to the ROC analysis, the likelihood of hypertriglyceridemia and high values of AIP, AC, non-HDL-C, and CRI-I were associated with 25(OH)D thresholds ≤15.15 ng/mL, ≤17.5 ng/mL, ≤19.8 ng/mL, ≤20.1 ng/mL, and ≤19.5 ng/mL, respectively, all p < 0.01. Based on the atherogenic indices, this study indicates that vitamin D below 20 ng/mL may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adult women. Additional health measures are essential to raise awareness among women and health professionals of preventing and controlling cardiovascular risk factors, particularly among young individuals. Full article

Anomalies in lipid metabolism involve multifactorial pathogenesis, among other factors, being associated with an inflammatory state and disturbances in vitamin D status. The literature has focused on the binary relationships between inflammation and dyslipidemia, vitamin D and dyslipidemia, or vitamin D and inflammation. Our study aimed to explore the link between all these three factors: 25-OH vitamin D serum levels, the presence of inflammation assessed through serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum lipid profile in 2747 hospitalized patients. Our results showed a positive correlation of HDL-C with 25 (OH) vitamin D and a negative correlation of HDL-C with CRP. This relationship had different patterns in the statistical network analysis. The network analysis patterns are preserved for males and females, except for the relationship between CRP and vitamin D, which is present in male cases and absent in females. The same triangular relationship between all three—CRP, vitamin D, and HDL-C was found with different strengths of partial correlation in obese and non-obese patients. This pattern was similar in patients with and without fatty liver. A shifted pattern was found in the network analysis of hypertensive patients. The CRP was negatively correlated with vitamin D and HDL-C, and vitamin D was positively correlated with HDL-C in non-hypertensive patients. Castelli’s Risk indexes I and II were positively associated with CRP, suggesting that increased cardiovascular risk is proportional to an inflammatory state. The triad formed by altered serum lipid levels, inflammation, and vitamin D represents a complex relationship marked by specific dynamics between lipidic fractions such as HDL-C and C-reactive protein and vitamin D. Full article

(1) Background: Dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance are major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study investigated the relationship between plasma atherogenic index (PA-I), triglyceride-glucose index (TGI) and other lipid ratios with the presence and prediction of CAD among different age categories. (2) Methods: The study included 223 participants diagnosed with CAD and those with normal coronary arteries (normal group) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Participants were categorised by age and sex: premature CAD (PCAD) for men under 55 and women under 65, and older groups as elderly. (3) Results: PA-I, Lipid Combined Index, Castelli Risk Indices, and TGI were significantly higher in the PCAD group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that a PA-I cut-off of 0.41 had a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 58% for predicting PCAD, while a TGI cut-off of 8.74 had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 62%. In the elderly, no significant differences in these indices were found between the CAD and normal groups. (4) Conclusions: Traditional lipid profiles and non-traditional lipid indices such as PA-I and TGI show significant differences in predicting CAD in younger populations but not in older groups. TGI and PA-I may be promising biomarkers for the prediction of PAD, although further validation is needed. Full article

Cardiometabolic alterations are very common in bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chronotype and cardiometabolic parameters in patients with a primary diagnosis of BD. This study is an observational clinical investigation including 170 subjects consecutively admitted to the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit of the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (Genoa, Italy), recruited over a period of 48 months. A psychometric tool assessing chronotype was administered and blood tests were performed. Furthermore, the atherogenic coefficient ((total cholesterol–HDL cholesterol)/HDL cholesterol), and Castelli risk index-I (total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol) and -II (LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol) were calculated. Patients with BD and an eveningness chronotype showed a higher body mass index, total and low-density lipotrotein cholesterol compared to patients with BD and an intermediate or morning chronotype. Furthermore, the Atherogenic Coefficient and Castelli Risk-Index I–II were found to be higher in bipolar patients with an evening chronotype. The role of chronotype in the development of obesity and cardiovascular risk is, therefore, a relationship worth being investigated, especially in the context of BD, to ameliorate the clinical and therapeutic approach, aiming at increasing the quality of life and reducing the mortality. Full article

(1) Vitamin D deficiency and changes in the endocrine system may stimulate systemic inflammation. VDR expression and the vitamin D concentration decrease with age, which is important in postmenopausal women for whom estrogen deficiency causes rapid bone loss. This group is, moreover, particularly at risk of developing atherosclerosis and its adverse consequences, such as chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the differentiation by the VDR genotype of the risk factors for so-called chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disorders. (2) We studied the differences between the anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammation parameters of VDR genotypes for Apa-I, Bsm-I, Fok-I, and Taq-I in a sample of 321 women aged 50–60 from an ethnically homogeneous urban population in Poland. (3) The TT Taq-I genotype presented a significantly higher rate of insulin resistance (HOMA) and lower serum levels of adiponectin than the other two genotypes. The AA genotype of the Bsm-I polymorphism was associated with a more atherogenic serum profile and significantly higher LDL and LDL/HDL values and Castelli Index. (4) Chronic low-grade inflammation was associated with the TT Taq-I genotype and presented a higher rate of insulin resistance. The AA genotype of the Bsm-I polymorphism presented a more atherogenic serum lipid profile and, therefore, a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Full article