Atherosclerosis and Insulin Resistance: Is There a Link Between Them?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death, with atherosclerosis (ATS) underlying 80% of cases.
• Atherosclerosis involves arterial wall lipid accumulation and inflammation, driven by hypertension, dyslipidemia, and endothelial dysfunction.
• Insulin resistance (IR), impaired glucose uptake preceding diabetes, is linked to metabolic disturbances and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the complex relationship between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.
• To highlight their roles as independent and interrelated contributors to cardiovascular risk.
• To emphasize the importance of targeting the IR-ATS axis for CVD prevention.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.
• Discussion of diagnostic methods for subclinical ATS (e.g., coronary artery calcium scoring, carotid ultrasound).
• Exploration of surrogate indices for IR diagnosis (e.g., HOMA-IR, QUICKI, TyG index).

Main Results:

• Insulin resistance independently predicts atherosclerotic plaque progression, even in non-diabetics.
• IR contributes to CVD through traditional risk factors and direct vascular effects.
• Early detection of subclinical ATS is critical for risk stratification.

Conclusions:

• The interplay between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis is a key driver of cardiovascular disease.
• Understanding and targeting the IR-ATS axis is essential for effective CVD prevention and management.
• Early identification and intervention for IR and subclinical ATS can mitigate cardiovascular risk.