The Relationship between Serum Adiponectin Levels with the Presence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Adiponectin plays important roles in the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, and inflammation. In this study the relationship between adiponectin levels with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) is evaluated. This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 213 persons who referred for coronary angiography. One cardiologist reported the results of each coronary angiography by using two scoring systems [number of vessel disease (usual method) and Gensini scoring system]. Then, the relationship between adiponectin levels with the presence and severity of CAD as well as predictive factors for CAD were evaluated. There was a significant negative association between mean serum adiponectin levels and presence of CAD (P = 0.04) after adjustment for all conventional risk factors for CAD. Also there was a significant negative correlation between serum adiponectin levels and severity of CAD based on the usual method for reporting coronary angiograms (P = 0.01). After adjustment for all conventional risk factors for CAD the serum adiponectin level tended to be inversely associated with the Gensini score (P = 0.09). Logistic regression analysis showed that a higher serum adiponectin level was negatively and independently associated with CAD (odds ratio: 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.88–1.00; P < 0.05). The variables predictive of serum adiponectin levels were determined as follows: HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.001); age (P = 0.002); insulin resistance (P = 0.005) and triglycerides (P = 0.036). This cross-sectional study showed a significant negative association between serum adiponectin levels to the presence and severity of CAD.