Background and aims The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been proposed as a new biomarker for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between AIP and the incidence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). Methods We enrolled 528 participants who underwent routine annual health examinations at the Health Management Center of Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital for three consecutive years, from January 2019 to December 2021. Participants were assigned to one of four groups according to the quartile level of AIP. CAS was assessed using high-resolution carotid ultrasonography. CAS progression was defined as the appearance of new plaques or a significant increase in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) compared with the baseline. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between AIP and incident CAS. CAS progression was compared between participants in the high and low AIP quartiles. The group-based trajectory model (GBTM) was employed to assess the trends of the AIP across multiple time points. Kaplan-Meier curves and two-sided log-rank tests were used to compare cumulative rates of CAS progression. Results A significant positive association was observed between the AIP and increased CIMT, as well as carotid plaques (CPs). The relationship between AIP and the odds of incident CAS appeared to be approximately linear. Compared with the lowest AIP quartiles, the highest AIP quartile was independently associated with increased CIMT progression (HR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.16 to 5.19, p<0.05) after adjusting for various confounding factors. Three trajectory patterns were identified by the GBTM model. Participants in the high-increasing trajectory group had a significantly increased risk of CP progression (HR: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.39 to 7.97, p<0.01). Conclusions AIP was significantly associated with CAS risk and progression. Monitoring the long-term changes in AIP levels may assist in the early identification of high-risk individuals for CAS.
Li et al. (Tue,) studied this question.