Evaluation of the association between HbA1c and the Atherosclerosis Index of Plasma (AIP) in diabetic patients in Benghazi, Libya

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major metabolic disorder associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and  cardiovascular diseases. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) are key biomarkers linked to the progression of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients. This study aims to evaluate the association between HbA1c and AIP in T2DM patients in Benghazi, Libya. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Tariq Hospital in city of Benghazi in the period between February and June 2024, involving 292 T2DM patients. Blood sample were collected form the patients and analyzed for Fasting blood sugar(FBS), HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and AIP was calculated (AIP = log10(TG/HDL-C). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, correlation analysis, and linear regression to assess the relationship between HbA1c and AIP. The findings revealed a moderate positive correlation between HbA1c and AIP (r=0.51, P<0.001), indicating that higher HbA1c levels are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Significant gender differences were observed, with male patients exhibiting higher AIP values than females. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between HbA1c and TG as well very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), while an inverse correlationwas observed with HDL.This study demonstrates the critical role of optimal glycemic control in reducing cardiovascular risk among type 2 diabetes patients. Routine assessment of HbA1c and AIP is recommended as an essential component of comprehensive cardiovascular risk evaluation and prevention strategies.