Tumour necrosis factor alpha-inducing protein 3 (TNFAIP3) can independently predict coronary heart disease (CHD).

Background: Multiple indicators of inflammation are significantly associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). Tumour necrosis factor alpha-inducible protein 3 (TNFAIP3) is an anti-inflammatory protein that inhibits inflammatory responses. However, the relationship between TNFAIP3 and CHD is currently unknown.

Methods: This study included 236 patients. They were divided into the CHD group (n = 162) and the control group (n = 74) according to whether at least one coronary artery was >50% stenosed by coronary angiography or computed tomography angiography (CTA). All patients in the CHD group presented with acute coronary syndromes. TNFAIP3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked adsorbent assay (ELISA). Propensity score matching was performed using a 1:1 ratio, and 56 pairs of patients were identified. The association between TNFAIP3 and the risk of developing CHD was analysed by one-way and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Before and after propensity score matching, TNFAIP3 levels were significantly lower in CHD patients than in controls. TNFAIP3 was negatively correlated with CHD. Logistic regression model showed that TNFAIP3 was an independent factor for CHD.ROC curves showed an AUC of 0.957 (0.916, 0.998), a sensitivity of 0.964, a specificity of 0.929, a Youden index 0.893, TNFAIP3 showed a good predictive effect on the development of CHD.

Conclusions: Patients with CHD had decreased levels of TNFAIP3, and TNFAIP3 was an independent predictor of CHD. These findings suggest that TNFAIP3 levels can be tested clinically to provide a reference for the diagnosis of CHD.