Plasma free fatty acids in relation with the severity of coronary artery disease in non-diabetics: A Gensini score assessment

Objectives

Free fatty acids (FFAs) have been reported to be a marker in the development of atherosclerosis. However, no data is currently available with regard to the relation of FFA to the severity of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation of free fatty acids levels to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in non-diabetic patients.

Methods

A total of 766 consecutive individuals (496 CAD and 266 controls) who had a angina-like chest pain and received coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. FFA was measured using enzymatic assay and the severity of coronary arteries was assessed by Gensini score system. The association of plasma FFAs levels with the severity of CAD was finally investigated.

Results

There were significantly higher FFAs levels in CAD group compared with those in control group (p = 0.040). FFAs levels were positively correlated with Gensini score (r = 0.120, p = 0.008) and elevated according to the tertiles of Gensini score (p for trend 0.002). Multivariate leaner regression analysis also proved that FFAs levels were independently associated with the Gensini score (β = 0.106, p = 0.018) after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions

The present study showed that FFAs levels were positively and independently associated with the severity of CAD, suggested that further study may be needed to confirm our findings.