Atherogenic Risk Assessment among Persons Living in Rural Uganda

The correlations between angiopoietin like 8 and cardiometabolic risk factors in Saudi women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study

PURPOSE

This study examines whether Angiopoietin Like 8 (ANGPTL8) is linked to cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in Saudi women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

Case-control investigation compared 150 women aged 30-60 with T2DM to 140 healthy women of the same age and gender.

RESULTS

ANGPTL8 levels differed significantly between T2DM and non-diabetics. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin resistance (IR), triglycerides (TG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), body mass index (BMI), and atherogenic index (AIP) of plasma all correlated positively with ANGPTL8 concentrations. Insulin levels correlated negatively with ANGPTL8. Multiple linear regression models showed that elevated ANGPTL8 independently predicted higher FBG, hs-CRP, IR, TG, and AIP in T2DM patients.

CONCLUSION

The study found a significant association between ANGPTL8 levels and IR, hs-CRP, TG, AIP, and BMI in women with T2DM. These components are classified as CMRFs and have the potential to contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Evaluation of Adiponectin and ANGPTL8 in Women With Metabolic Syndrome in the Madinah Region of Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE

 "Metabolic syndrome" (MetS) is a set of abnormalities that may be risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. The current study sought to (1) determine MetS prevalence and (2) examine Adiponectin and ANGPTL8 levels in connection to MetS components and CVDs and diabetes risk in females with MetS.

METHODS

A total of 350, 20-35-year-old Saudi females were studied. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), glucose, HbA1c, insulin, lipid profiles, and blood pressure (BP) were examined for MetS. ANGPTL8 and Adiponectin were also measured.

RESULTS

The patients were classified into two groups, namely MetS and non-MetS, according to the criteria established by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII). We examined biomarker and anthropometric results between these groups. One hundred forty-four of 350 female participants (41.2%) had MetS, with a mean age of 30.5 years. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), ANGPTL8, adiponectin, and insulin resistance (IR) were statistically significant differences observed between the two groups. BP, BMI, WC, and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) all changed significantly (P ≤0.05). Correlation studies linked MetS components to higher ANGPTL-8 and reduced adiponectin. The levels of ANGPTL8 were shown to be influenced by the increase in FBG, TG, BP, IR, and AIP (P < 0.05). Factors such as FBG, BMI, WC, and IR have been found to have an inverse relationship with adiponectin levels.

CONCLUSION

41.2% out of 350 Saudi females at Taibah University in the Madinah region had MetS, medium CVD risk, and slightly elevated BMI, TG, WC, and BP. To lower their risk of CVD and diabetes later in life, overweight young women should be evaluated for MetS. FBG and TG were substantially associated with ANGPTL8 while reducing adiponectin was associated with elevated TG and BP. Our findings may lead to ANGPTL8 and adiponectin's possible predictive function for CVD in early MetS in females.

Association of Serum Leptin and Adiponectin Concentrations with Type 2 Diabetes Biomarkers and Complications Among Saudi Women

Objective

Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance (IR) put obese women with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

150 T2DM women aged 30-45 were studied cross-sectionally at Madinah Hospital lab to find T2DM risk factors and their association with adiponectin/leptin levels.

Results

Women with T2DM showed greater fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), insulin resistance (IR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and CVD risk (high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and leptin), but decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) and poor insulin sensitivity with low adiponectin. Obese women with T2DM had increased leptin and reduced adiponectin. Leptin levels were significantly related to IR, BMI, and AIP (B= 3.97, P= 0.02) but not WC. Leptin levels were negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (IS) and HDL-c (P< 0.05). In linear regression analysis, adiponectin levels had a significant association with IS and HDL-c (P= 0.03, P= 0.04) but an inverse relationship with IR, BMI, WC (B=-2.91, P= 0.04), and AIP (P< 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased leptin levels are related to high IR, AIP, and BMI among T2DM female patients. Similarly, adiponectin levels decrease IS and HDL-c. Therefore, obese T2DM women with high leptin and low adiponectin levels should be periodically checked to avoid or decrease consequences like CVD.

Atherogenic index of plasma and its cardiovascular risk factor correlates among patients with type 2 diabetes in Uganda

Background

Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) is a reliable predictor of coronary artery disease. There is paucity of data on AIP and its correlates among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Uganda.

Objective

To assess the profile of AIP and its cardiovascular risk factor correlates among patients with T2D in Uganda.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 8 health facilities with established T2D clinics in Central-Uganda. The study enrolled 500 patients aged 40 to 79 years. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, lipid profile and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The AIP was derived using log (triglycerides/high-density cholesterol) and further categorised as low cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk if the AIP was <0.1, intermediate risk (0.1-0.24) and high risk (≥0.24). Cardiovascular risk factors were defined according to international guidelines.Stata version 14 was used to analyse data, Pearson correlation analyses were conducted. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

There were 389(77.4%) females with a mean age of 55.07±8. 979 years. Low-risk was found in 43.6%, intermediate risk in 20.2% and high risk in 36.2% of the participants. AIP significantly correlated with waist circumference (r=0.1095, p<0.0147), waist-hip ratio (r=0.1926, p<0.001), Casteri Risk Index I (r=0.506, r=<0.001), Casteri Risk Index II (r=0.246, p<0.001) and atherogenic coefficient (r=0.186, p<0.001). Insignificant correlation was observed between AIP and fasting blood sugar (r=0.017, p=0.7042), HBA1C (r=0.0108, p=0.8099) and diabetes duration (r=0.0445, p=0.32).

Conclusions

AIP is significantly elevated and correlated with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with T2D. In clinical management, this may be a useful tool in risk stratifying patients with T2D.

Prevalence of cardiometabolic risks and associated factors in a geriatric population in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

Cardiometabolic risks (CMRs) are factors associated with the possibility of developing vascular events and/or diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CMRs and associated factors among a Saudi geriatric population in Al Madinah Al Munawarah.

METHODS

An epidemiologic, cross-sectional, community-based study included freely living persons ≥65 y of age (N = 600). Sociodemographic characteristics and body mass index (BMI) were collected. Fasting blood samples (5 mL) were drawn for the determination of selected biochemical markers, including glycemic status, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, hemoglobin level, serum iron, and for the calculation of Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP). Blood tests were carried out by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using the Cobas-e 411 immunoassay analyzer and Siemens Dimension XP.

RESULTS

Women (72%) and men (82.7%) had diabetes as shown by their high mean glycated hemoglobin percent (women 7.90 [2.95]; men 8.4 [1.64]; P < 0.001). Older adults with diabetes had dyslipidemia, were overweight (women only), had hypoalbuminemia, elevated CRP, and increased AIP. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher among men (44%) than women (25%). More women suffered from hypoalbuminemia (54%) than men (40.7%). Low serum iron levels were more prevalent among men than women (54 versus 40.7%). More men (56.6%) than women (33.4%) had CRP levels of >5 mg/L. Older adults had similar prevalence of dyslipidemia Men had a higher prevalence of poor high-density lipoprotein levels compared with their counterparts (9.3% versus 13%). Multiple linear regression models showed that dyslipidemia, BMI, serum albumin (women only), fasting glucose levels, CRP, and AIP were significantly elevated with increasing age among older adults.

CONCLUSION

The Saudi geriatric population is at increased CMR as noted by their high prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, elevated CRP, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, overweight/obesity, and high AIP.

Risks of cardio-vascular diseases among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treated HIV seropositive volunteers at a treatment centre in Lagos, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to a decline in HIV-induced morbidity and mortality in recent years. However, it has been opined that this has led to elevated risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study assessed the risks of CVDs among HAART experienced individuals living with HIV.

METHODS

a cross sectional study involving 196 adults consisting of 118 HAART experienced and 78 HAART naïve was conducted. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were recorded for all participants. Blood samples obtained from the volunteers were used to determine glucose, creatinine, HIV viral load, CD4 count and lipid profile using standard methods. Lipid ratios, atherogenic indices and QRISK3 risk score were calculated.

RESULTS

the median CD4 lymphocyte, mean body mass index (BMI) and HDL-c in HAART experienced participants were higher (P<0.05) than HAART naive individuals. The QRISK3 risk score and creatinine were higher (p<0.05) among HAART experienced group. In HAART experienced group, the risk of hypertension, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and QRISK3 were 3.7, 2.0, 2.38 and 3.85 times (p<0.05) higher respectively than in HAART naive. Atherogenic coefficient (AC) increase was more prevalent among male (p<0.05) participants. Risk of chronic renal disease (eGFR), hypertension and CVD (as measured by QRISK3) was higher (p<0.05) among the female and older participants respectively.

CONCLUSION

the risk of CVDs and renal disease appeared to be higher among HAART experienced volunteers and older (>45 years) volunteers. The risk of renal disease appeared higher in females.

Use of Global Risk Score for Cardiovascular Evaluation of Rural Workers in Southern Brazil

The objectives of the present study were to classify the cardiovascular evaluation of rural workers through the Global Risk Score and analyze the intensity of the relationship between the classification and the variables of the score. A descriptive study was developed with 38 rural workers from the extreme southern Brazil. Data collection was performed through an interview and verification of anthropometric measurements and arterial blood pressure. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Spearman correlation test. The overall 10-year cardiovascular risk classification using the Framingham global score showed a predominance of low risk (n = 22; 57.9%); however, 11 rural workers (28.9%) had a high cardiovascular risk. Spearman's correlation analysis showed significance between the Global Risk Score and gender (rho = 0.623, p ≤ 0.001), age (rho = 0.783, p ≤ 0.001), systolic blood pressure (rho = 0.545, p ≤ 0.001), and smoking (rho = 0.483, p = 0.002). These results show that rural workers need attention with regard to components that may put them at risk for cardiovascular disease. This study may help in the early diagnosis and more effective actions on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Atherogenic index of plasma and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in adult Africans living with HIV infection: A cross-sectional study from Yaoundé, Cameroon

Background

The paucity of data regarding the association between atherogenic index of plasma and risk of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected populations living in sub-Saharan Africa prompted us to conduct this study which aimed to assess the relationship between atherogenic index of plasma and risk of cardiovascular disease among a Cameroonian HIV-infected population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 452 HIV-infected adults in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Risk of cardiovascular disease was calculated using the Framingham risk score; atherogenic index of plasma was derived as log (triglycerides/high-density lipoproteins cholesterol).

Results

Participants' mean age (80% females) was 44.4 ± 9.8 years. Atherogenic index of plasma values ranged from -0.63 to 1.36 with a median of 0.11 (25th-75th percentiles: -0.08-0.31). Most participants (88.5%) were on antiretroviral treatment. There was a significant correlation between atherogenic index of plasma and fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.116; p = 0.014), atherogenic index of plasma and total cholesterol (r = -0.164; p < 0.001). Atherogenic index of plasma was significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease either in univariable (β = 5.05, 95% CI: 3.31-6.79; p < 0.001, R² = 0.067) or in multivariable linear regression model after adjusting for socio-demographic, clinical and biological confounders (adjusted β = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.65 - 4.88; p < 0.001, R² = 0.187).

Conclusion

Atherogenic index of plasma may be an independent factor impacting the risk of cardiovascular disease among Cameroonian HIV-infected people. More studies are needed to better elucidate the association between atherogenic index of plasma and risk of cardiovascular disease in our setting.

The Role of Anethum graveolens L. (Dill) in the Management of Diabetes

Aim. There is evidence that Anethum graveolens (AG) has been used for centuries in Asian traditional medicine, and its constituents have useful effects on the control and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. AG has many useful effects, including hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects, and it has been reported to reduce the incidence of diabetic complications. It acts mainly by affecting antioxidant capacity and change in some genes in glucose and lipid pathways. The aim of the present paper was to summarize pharmacological effects of AG in the management of diabetes. Methods. To prepare this review, a pharmacological and phytochemical literature survey was performed using Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Also, some historical and ethnopharmacological literature sources were used. Results. This review plans to provide readers with an assessment of the pharmacological effects of AG, especially in diabetes. Conclusion. The paper highlights the therapeutic effects of AG which would aid in supporting their safe use in the management of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.