Adiponectin--an independent marker of coronary artery disease occurrence rather than a degree of its advancement in comparison to the IMT values in peripheral arteries

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish whether adiponectin may act as an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) and if adiponectin has potential relations with a new marker of cardiovascular risk -intima-media thickness (IMT).

Methods: 165 patients, who had undergone coronary angiography due to symptoms of CAD were enrolled. Selected clinical and biochemical risk factors were assessed, adiponectin concentrations and IMT were measured.

Results: A significantly lower adiponectin concentrations in the CAD group, as compared to the controls, were found. Adiponectin concentration did not correlate with a degree of coronary vessels changes advancement. No correlation between adiponectin concentrations and IMT values in the studied peripheral arteries were found. The value of 9.8 ug/ml has been assigned as a cut-off value. Adiponectin concentrations <9.8 μg/ml had the highest positive predictive value (PPV=95.7%) and specificity (90.9), but low sensitivity (30.8). In the multilogistic regression analysis significant variables influencing the appearance of CAD were found: HDL-C (p=0.011, OR=0.88, 95%CI 0.80-0.97), IMT in CCA (p=0.0048, OR=5.25, 95%CI 1.65-16.75), IMT in CFA (p=0.015, OR=1.65, 95%CI 1.10-2.48 ), and adiponectin concentration <9.8 μg/ml (p=0.032, OR=28.95, 95%CI 1.31-641.48).

Conclusions: Adiponectin is an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease occurrence, but not its advancement. No correlation between adiponectin concentration and IMT values in peripheral arteries was shown.