Association of serum leptin with angiographically proven cardiovascular disease and with components of the metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study in East Azerbaijan.

Background: Role of leptin is well documented in cardiometabolic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate if the serum levels of leptin associates with the serum levels of markers related to cardiac and metabolic disorders in adults.

Materials and methods: One hundred eighty subjects [120 cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 60 healthy controls] were enrolled in the study, to determine the association of the serum leptin (in quartiles) and cardiometabolic diseases [metabolic syndrome (MetS) and CVD] adjusted for other biological and physical examination. MetS was according to the WHO Clinical Criteria for MetS definition and CVD by angiography outcomes. The serum levels of leptin and OX-LDL were measured by ELISA.

Results: Leptin levels were significantly higher in patients with MetS and those with positive angiography compared with controls. After controlling for potential confounders, a significant association of the leptin levels with cardiometabolic diseases was proven, albeit there was a higher rate of significance between CVD and leptin in comparison with MetS. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the serum levels of leptin were a valuable biomarker of the cardiometabolic diseases.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that serum leptin levels are associated with components of the MetS and with CVD. Serum leptin may be a useful biomarker for CVD.