Publication:

Evaluation of triglyceride: HDL-C ratio and Non-HDL-C as harbingers of increased cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome

Background Metabolic syndrome is an aggregate of conditions that together increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Dyslipidemia consisting of elevated triglyceride, decreased HDL, and altered triglyceride to high density lipoprotein- Cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is useful in predicting cardiometabolic risk and insulin resistance. The present study aimed to compile further evidence for clinical utility of TG/HDL-C ratio and Non HDL-C as simple, cost effective tools for early identification of cardiovascular disease risk in metabolic syndrome.

Methods This study was carried out with hundred subjects. Fifty of these subjects were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III; while other fifty were age and gender matched healthy control subjects.

Results The impact of cardiometabolic markers on metabolic syndrome was assessed separately in men and women by applying Mann Whitney ‘U’ test. Study showed highly significant increase in TG, HDL, TC/TG and TG/HDL-C ratio in women compared to men with p<0.01. The odds ratio of TG/HDL for women showed the highest ratio of 6, 95% CI (1.5225 to 23.6401) p=0.006 compared to men 4.9583, 95% CI (1.0088-24.3711), p=0.004.

Conclusions This study demonstrated that TG/HDL-C ratio and Non HDL-C are strongly associated with metabolic syndrome in urban population. In comparison, TG/HDL-C is a better predictor of metabolic syndrome than non-HDL-C.