The role of serum lipids and BMI in China patients with primary pterygium

Abstract

To study the role of Body Mass Index (BMI) and serum lipid profile molecules, as well as their derivative indexes in primary pterygium patients. The patient group consisted of 110 patients with primary pterygium diagnosed in our center between January 2019 and December 2020, while the control group consisted of 144 healthy persons of similar age and sex diagnosed during the same time period. The BMI, serum lipid profile molecules and their derivative indexes of both groups were analyzed retrospectively. In the patient group, 62 patients were overweight or obesity and 104 patients with dyslipidemia. Among them, body mass index (BMI), serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and apolipoprotein B (Apo‐B) levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The difference in Apo‐B/ApoAl ratio, TC/LDL‐C ratio, HDL‐C/LDL‐C ratio was statistically significant (p < 0 .05), while the serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and TG/LDL‐C ratio were not significantly different in the patient group compared with control group (p > 0.05). Logistic analysis indicated that obesity, TC and HDL‐C/LDL‐C ratio are independent risk factors influencing the onset of pterygium (p < .05). BMI and serum lipid level are both significantly associated with primary pterygium. Obesity and abnormal serum lipid metabolism are independent risk factors for pterygium and play a critical role in the development of pterygium. Obesity and serum lipid level can significantly affect clinical management of pterygium. These characteristics are simple to use in clinical practice and may aid in the identification of pterygium high‐risk populations.