New Predictor of Atherosclerosis in Subjects With COPD: Atherogenic Indices.

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the predictor role of the plasma levels of lipid parameters and atherogenic indices on development of atherosclerosis in subjects with COPD. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 104 male subjects diagnosed with stable COPD in hospital records. We excluded subjects with exacerbation, with known cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases, receiving anti-hyperlipidemic treatment, without sufficient past medical history, and lacking needed laboratory data. Additionally, 40 age-matched male healthy controls were also enrolled. C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of COPD and the control group were analyzed. Atherogenic indices (atherogenic index of plasma, cardiogenic risk ratio, and atherogenic coefficient) were calculated. RESULTS C-reactive protein, triglyceride, atherogenic index of plasma, cardiogenic risk ratio, and atherogenic coefficient values were significantly higher in subjects with stable COPD than in control subjects (P < .05 for all). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly lower in subjects with COPD than in the control group (P < .001). C-reactive protein, lipid profiles, and atherogenic indices were similar in lower-risk (stage A and B) and higher-risk (stage C and D) subjects with COPD. Cardiogenic risk ratio and atherogenic coefficient were negatively correlated with FEV1 in all stable subjects with COPD and in higher-risk subjects with COPD (r = -0.27, P = .01 and r = -0.35, P = .01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS We concluded that atherogenic indices (atherogenic index of plasma, cardiogenic risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient) could be considered as a useful predictor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in stable COPD patients. Nevertheless, further prospective investigations on this issue are warranted.