The relationship between the atherogenic index of plasma and arterial stiffness in essential hypertensive patients from China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) always remains in a potential association with arterial stiffness, however, this association has not been fully discovered and needs to be studied in depth in large hypertensive patient populations. The present analysis thus sought to further explore the association that exists between AIP and arterial stiffness in Chinese patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 4744 Chinese individuals with essential hypertension. AIP was defined as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of plasma of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels indicated in molar concentrations. Measurement of arterial stiffness was carried out via brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). RESULTS: Data were adjusted for potential confounding variables, and multivariate linear regression analysis revealed AIP to be positively correlated with baPWV (β = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.72, P < 0.001). When AIP was instead treated as a categorical variable divided into quartiles, the same relationship was observed (P for trend < 0.001). We additionally found AIP and baPWV had a stronger positive association in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) < 24 kg/m(2) (P for interaction < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AIP and arterial stiffness were positively correlated in essential hypertension patients in China, especially in those with a BMI < 24 kg/m(2). Clinical trial registration ChiCTR1800017274.