Study of serum adiponectin level as an atherosclerotic index in the elderly and its relationship to carotid intima–media thickness

Background It is well known that aging is associated with several hormonal alterations. However, the consequence of aging on the endocrine function of adipose tissue is not fully elucidated. Adiponectin is a new anti-inflammatory protein secreted exclusively by adipocytes and plays a protective role against insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Aim of the work The aim of the work was to assess serum adiponectin as a biomarker for atherosclerosis and its relation to the carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) as a clinical surrogate marker of atherosclerosis in elderly patients. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 80 participants aged 20–85 years who were subdivided into four groups. The first group was the control group (GI), which included 20 healthy young volunteers aged 20–40 years. The other three groups each included 20 elderly participants aged above 65 years who were classified according to arterial blood pressure and serum blood glucose levels into elderly healthy (GII), elderly hypertensives (GIII), and elderly diabetics (GIV). Results The mean adiponectin level (control, 12.48±3.95; GII, 9±3.25; GIII, 8.49±2.40; and GIV, 7.16±3.23) was significantly lower in individuals with high CIMT than in those with low CIMT (GI, 0.64±0.05; GII, 0.75±0.06; GIII, 0.72±0.08; GIV, 1.03±0.15). Adiponectin level was negatively correlated with age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood glucose, and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusion Adiponectin was significantly negatively correlated with CIMT independently of age, sex, and all metabolic risk factors. The present study found that serum adiponectin level in humans is lower in elderly individuals and in patients with diabetes mellitus and essential hypertension than in healthy participants, and is negatively affected by the duration of these diseases.