Changes in Serum Irisin Levels and Their Significance in Carotid Atherosclerosis Associated with Obesity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to comprehensively examine and assess the changes and significance of irisin levels in individuals with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) who are concurrently dealing with obesity.

METHOD: A total of 156 CAS patients admitted between March 2020 and March 2022 were categorized into CAS normal weight (C1), CAS overweight (C2), and CAS obesity (C3) groups based on BMI. Simultaneously, 80 healthy adults from the same period comprised the control group (C0). The study conducted a comparative analysis of biochemical indexes, serum irisin levels, and carotid artery ultrasounds across all groups. Correlation analyses and diagnostic assessments for serum irisin in obesity with carotid atherosclerosis were executed using ROC curves.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum homocysteine (Hcy), and irisin levels among all groups (P < .05). Obese CAS patients exhibited higher levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and Hcy, with notably lower levels of HDL-C and irisin compared to other groups (P < .05). Significant variations in carotid artery ultrasound intima-media thickness (IMT) and Crouse scores were also evident among all groups (P < .05). Specifically, IMT and Crouse scores were higher in obese CAS patients compared to other groups (P < .05). Correlation analysis results indicated a significant negative correlation between irisin and TC, TG, LDL-C, Hcy, IMT, and Crouse score (P < .05). Conversely, irisin exhibited a significant positive correlation with HDL-C levels (P < .05). The ROC curve analysis for the diagnostic value of irisin in obesity with CAS revealed an area under the curve of 0.957.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum irisin levels are significantly reduced in CAS patients, particularly those with overweight and obese. Additionally, irisin levels are closely associated with patients' blood lipids, homocysteine levels, and the severity of atherosclerosis.