Low plasma adiponectin is associated with coronary artery disease but not with hypertension in high-risk nondiabetic patients

Objective. To investigate the association of plasma adiponectin levels with coronary artery disease (CAD), arterial hypertension (HT), and insulin resistance (IR) in nondiabetic Caucasian patients. Design. We measured plasma adiponectin levels, IR (HOMA index), and the CAD atherosclerotic burden (angiography-based modified Duke Index score) in 400 nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography. HT was diagnosed by the European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) guidelines or if patients were on antihypertensive treatment. Results. Coronary artery disease was found in 62% of the patients and ruled out in the rest (non-CAD group). Plasma adiponectin levels were inversely related to the CAD score (beta = -0.12, P = 0.029) and predicted the coronary atherosclerotic burden independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. However, they were similar in NT and HT and showed no correlation with blood pressure values. In non-CAD, but not in CAD patients, they were lower in patients with than without IR (8.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 11.3 +/- 1.3, respectively; P = 0.007). Conclusions. In nondiabetic high-risk Caucasian patients plasma adiponectin levels are inversely related to CAD severity and IR; however, they are not strongly related to blood pressure values.