Exploring the Association Between Apob/Apoa-I Ratio and Obesity-Related Anthropometric Indices in Nigerian Adults

The apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I (ApoB/ApoA-I) ratio has emerged as a superior biomarker for predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), offering greater prognostic value than conventional lipid parameters by reflecting the balance between atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipoproteins. Concurrently, the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among Nigerian adults has become a significant public health concern due to its strong association with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Although body mass index (BMI) is widely used to assess obesity, it has limitations in distinguishing fat mass from lean body mass and does not adequately account for fat distribution. Waist circumference (WC), an indicator of central adiposity, has demonstrated greater accuracy in identifying obesity-related cardiometabolic risk. Despite these observations, limited evidence exists on the relationship between the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and measures of adiposity among Nigerian adults. This study aims to evaluate the association between the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and indicators of total and central adiposity, including BMI and waist circumference, in relation to cardiovascular risk. The findings are expected to provide evidence on the usefulness of the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio as a reliable biomarker for cardiovascular risk assessment and obesity-related metabolic abnormalities in the Nigerian population.