Atherogenic Indices in Newly Diagnosed Obese and Lean Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Comparative Study

Dyslipidemia is one of the driving forces in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its resultant cardiovascular disease. Both these conditions are characterized by an increase in proatherogenic lipids compared to anti-atherogenic lipids. Atherogenic Indices have been developed to predict CVD risk without increasing the cost of testing; however, most of the studies done to date have used these indices in patients who have already suffered a coronary event. Dyslipidemia is most prevalent in cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study was designed to assess atherogenic risk (via atherogenic indices) in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve obese and lean patients of T2DM.

Treatment-naïve, newly diagnosed patients of T2DM were recruited and grouped into obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and lean (BMI <18.5 kg/m²) groups. Blood was collected in a fasting state for the estimation of glycemic parameters and fasting lipid profile. Atherogenic indices (LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, atherogenic coefficient, lipoprotein combined index, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP)) were calculated using predefined formulas.

LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, atherogenic coefficient, lipoprotein combined index, and AIP were higher in the obese group compared to the lean group. However, these calculated indices were above the recommended cutoffs in both obese and lean patients with T2DM.

This study is the first to document increased atherogenic risk in both obese and lean patients (newly diagnosed) with T2DM. Although CVD risk is higher among the obese patients, aggressive control of plasma lipids is required in all patients with T2DM, irrespective of BMI.