Association between atherogenic index of plasma and carotid artery plaque in patients with coronary heart disease in different glucose metabolism states: a RCSCD-TCM study in China

Background: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) index can be used as a powerful biomarker of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis (AS). However, there is limited evidence on the relationship between AIP index and carotid artery plaque (CAP) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: This is a retrospective study of 9281 CHD patients who underwent carotid ultrasound. Participants were divided according to AIP index tertiles (T1: AIP index < 1.02, T2: 1.02≤ AIP index < 1.25, T3: AIP index ≥ 1.25). The presence or absence of CAP was determined by carotid ultrasonography. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between AIP index and CAP in CHD patients . The relationship between AIP index and CAP was also assessed according to sex, age, and glucose metabolic status. Results: The baseline analysis showed that there were significant differences in related parameters among CHD patients who were divided into three groups according to the tertiles of AIP index. Compared with T1 of AIP index, the odds ratio (OR) of the T3 of AIP index in CHD patients was 2.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.91-2.52). The association between the AIP index and the CAP was higher in female (OR: 2.42; 95%CI: 2.02-2.90) than in male (OR: 1.89; 95%CI: 1.52-2.35). OR value of patients less than 60 years old (OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.70-2.63) is lower than that of patients over 60 years old (OR: 2.18; 95%CI: 1.83-2.61). AIP index was significantly associated with CAP risk in different glucose metabolic states, with diabetes having the highest OR values (OR: 4.18; 95%CI: 2.97-5.88). Conclusion: AIP index and CAP were significantly associated in CHD patients.In CHD patients, the association between AIP index and CAP was higher in female than in male, and lower in patients aged less than or equal to 60 than in patients aged more than 60. Under different glucose metabolism conditions, the association between AIP index and CAP in CHD patients was the highest in diabetes.