Leptin/adiponectin ratio in patients with coronary heart disease: comparing subjects with and without metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin and leptin are adipose tissue-derived hormones, shown to have opposing associations with the metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease (CHD). This study evaluated the association between the leptin/adiponectin ratio and the components of the metabolic syndrome in a cohort with CHD. Methods and results This cross-sectional study included data from 105 subjects (men = 91), undergoing first-time elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Association was found between the leptin/adiponectin ratio and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) (r(s) = 0.34, P = 0.0006), fasting insulin concentrations (r(s) = 0.37, P = 0.0001), fasting glucose concentrations (r(s) = 0.24, P = 0.01), systolic blood pressure (r(s) = 0.20, P = 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (r(s) = 0.24, P = 0.02), waist circumference (r(s) = 0.55, P < 0.0001), body mass index (BMI) (r(s) = 0.55, P < 0.0001) and waist/hip ratio (r(s) = 0.38, P = 0.0001). A significant difference was found in ratios between those with and without insulin resistance (HOMA > 3 and HOMA ≤ 3) (P = 0.029) and those with and without metabolic syndrome, defined by the International Diabetes Federation, (P < 0.001). However, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and assessment of area under curve (AUC), the leptin/adiponectin ratio did not perform significantly better than its components. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe CHD, the leptin/adiponectin ratio was not found to be a robust tool to distinguish patients with and without insulin resistance and those with and without the metabolic syndrome.