Yuri Barbosa Araújo et al. Ana Beatriz Rocha Almeida Márcio Fellipe Menezes Viana Rafael Alexandre Meneguz-Moreno
Abstract
Background
The search for clinically useful methods to assess atherosclerotic diseases (ASCVD) with good accuracy, low cost, non-invasiveness, and easy handling has been stimulated for years. Thus, the atherogenic indices evaluated in this study may fit this growing demand.
Objectives
To assess the potential of atherogenic indices to evaluate patients with clinical atherosclerosis.
Methods
Single-center cross-sectional study, through which the Castelli I and II indices, the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), the lipoprotein combine index, and the variation in the peripheral perfusion index between 90 and 120 seconds after an endothelium-dependent (ΔPI90-120) vasodilator stimulus were evaluated in the prediction of atherosclerosis. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
The sample consisted of 298 individuals with an average age of 63.0±16.1 years, of which 57.4% were women. Paired comparisons of the ROC curve analysis of the indices that reached the area under the curve (AUC) > 0.6 show that ΔPI90-120 and AIP were superior to other indices, and no differences were observed between them (difference between AUC = 0.056; 95%CI -0.003–0.115). Furthermore, both the ΔPI90-120 [odds ratio (OR) 9.58; 95%CI 4.71–19.46)] and AIP (OR 5.35; 95%CI 2.30–12.45) were independent predictors of clinical atherosclerosis.
Conclusions
The AIP and ΔPI90-120 represented better accuracy in discriminating clinical ASCVD. Moreover, they were independent predictors of clinical ASCVD, evidencing a promising possibility for developing preventive and control strategies for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, they are markers for multicenter studies from the point of view of practicality, low cost, and external validity.