Relationship between plasma atherogeneity index and severity of coronary artery disease in diabetic patients

Introduction and Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cardiovascular complication that appears earlier and progresses more severely in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Dyslipidemia, commonly associated with T2DM, plays a key role in accelerating atherosclerosis and increasing the severity of CAD. The Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), calculated from the ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol, has been suggested as a potential marker reflecting atherosclerotic burden. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between AIP levels and the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with T2DM. Method: This retrospective case-control study was conducted at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Dursun Odabaş Medical Center between 2023 and 2024. A total of 100 patients with T2DM and 100 age- and sex-matched control subjects were included. Biochemical parameters (HbA1c, CRP, TG, HDL, LDL), echocardiographic data, and coronary angiography findings were retrospectively analyzed. AIP was calculated using the log(TG/HDL) formula, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0. Results: HbA1c and CRP levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the controls (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of LDL, TG, HDL levels, or AIP values (p>0.05). Importantly, SYNTAX scores were significantly higher in the diabetic group (p<0.05), indicating a greater severity of coronary artery disease. Conclusion: HbA1c and CRP appear to be valuable biomarkers in assessing the severity of CAD in patients with T2DM. In contrast, AIP, along with LDL, TG, and HDL levels, did not show a significant association with CAD severity. Although AIP alone may not be a sufficient predictor, it may provide supportive value when evaluated in conjunction with other parameters. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.