Background

Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients [1]. Nowadays, beside the main factors including hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia, novel risk factors such as chronic low-grade inflammation, advanced glycolisation end-products (AGE), oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are accepted as the responsible factors to highlight this increased cardiovascular risk in this population [2, 3]. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a metabolically active visceral fat tissue located between the heart and pericardium, has been proposed a novel cardiovascular risk in general population [4]. In the past years, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was the most commonly encountered marker for evaluating inflammation. Recently, two novel inflammatory markers, neutrophils-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were demonstrated that these two markers could predict inflammation as accurate as hs-CRP in various disorders [5, 6].

Anthropometric parameters are commonly used to assess the risk factors in various metabolic disorders [7]. Previous studies have shown that anthropometric parameters including waist circumference, body mass index, waist hip ratio, and waist height ratio are useful measures for predicting the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in different patient groups [8, 9]. Logarithmic ratio of triglycerides to HDL was defined as atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and this index was found to be closely associated with atherosclerosis in general population [10]. However, in the literature, data regarding the relationship between anthropometric measures, PLR, NLR, AIP and EAT in diabetic patients is scant. Hence, we aimed to investigate the relationship between these parameters and EAT. We also sought to determine the independent variables of EAT in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to compare these results with the others that obtained from control subjects.

Methods

Patients

The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Erzincan University (School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects included in the study. This was a cross-sectional study involving 156 type 2 diabetic patients (87 females, 69 males; mean age, 53.62 ± 9.33 years; diabetes duration, 88.31 ± 75.35 months) and 50 control subjects (35 females, 15 males; mean age, 51.06 ± 8.74 years).

Patients aged 18–80 years willing to participate were screened. A review of medical records (including information on age, sex, weight, height, disease duration, medications, history of other diseases, smoking) was undertaken. Exclusion criteria were infection, autoimmune disease, and acute diabetic complications. One hundred and sixty patients were evaluated and 4 patients excluded from the study. Of these 4 patients, three patients had active infection; and one patient had diabetic ketoacidosis.

The remaining 156 type 2 diabetic patients fulfilled the above criteria and were enrolled in the study. Of these 156 patients, 29 patients were taking insulin and oral antidiabetics; 69 patients were taking only oral antidiabetics; 25 patients were taking only insulin and 33 patients were not taking any antidiabetic medication.

Control subjects were chosen from metabolically healthy individuals according to NCEP ATP III Metabolic syndrome criteria (Two or less metabolic criteria; Blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg, TG ≥1.7 mmol/L, HDL-C: Men <1.03 mmol/L, Women <1.30 mmol/L, Glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L, Waist circumference: Men <102 cm, Women < 88 cm) [11].

Biochemical analyses, data collection and procedures

The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of patients were measured in the upright sitting position after >5 minutes of rest using an Erka sphygmomanometer (PMS Instruments Limited, Berkshire, UK) with an appropriate cuff size. Two readings were recorded for each individual. The mean value of two readings was defined as the blood pressure. Patients who were already on antihypertensive treatment (n = 70) or with SBP and DBP >140 mmHg and 90 mmHg (seventeen patients without taking any antihypertensive treatment) respectively were assumed to be hypertensive.

Body-mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight divided by the square of the height. Waist circumference was measured at the level of midway between the lower rib margin and iliac crest after removal of the clothes. Weight and height was measured with the possible lightest clothing and without shoes. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated according to Cockcroft-Gault formula [12].

Venous blood samples for biochemical analyses were drawn after at least 10 hours of fasting before taking any medication. All biochemical analyses were undertaken in the Central Biochemistry Laboratory of the Erzincan University School of Medicine, Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital. Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and plasma triglyceride concentrations were undertaken using an oxidize-based technique by the Beckman Coulter AU 2700 plus, Missima, Japan. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured by HPLC method using the Adams HA-8160 (Shiga, Japan). Serum creatinine were measured with Jaffe Method.

Definition of PLR and NLR

Complete blood counts with automated differential counts, which included total white blood cells, neutrophils, platelets and lymphocytes, were obtained. NLR and PLR were calculated as the ratio of the neutrophils and platelets to lymphocytes respectively, both obtained from the same automated blood sample at the admission of the study.

Definition of atherogenic index of plasma

Atherogenic index of plasma was calculated as the logarithmically transformed ratio of the serum triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol [13].

Definition of epicardial adipose tissue thickness

All participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography imaging using an echocardiograph equipped with a broadband transducer (Vivid S4, GE Medical Systems, USA). Measurements were obtained from the long axis and apical four-chamber-view according to the standard criteria. Echocardiograms were recorded on videotapes. EAT appears as an echo-free space in the pericardial layers on 2-D echocardiography. EAT thickness was measured on the free wall of right ventricle at end-diastole from the parasternal long- and short-axis views by two cardiologists (E.M.B and H.H) blinded to clinical data. Measurements from the parasternal long- and short-axis were averaged.

The echocardiograms of 20 patients were randomly selected and a second measurement of the EAT was performed 2 weeks later in order to assess the inter-observer and intra-observer variability. The inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities of the EAT were found as 3.4% and 3.0%, respectively.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistical package for Social Sciences for Windows version 15.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics for each variable were determined. Results for continuous variables were demonstrated as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical significant difference between the groups was determined by the chi-square test for categorical variables and unpaired Student t test for continuous variables. Associations between the variables were explored using the Pearson correlation and Spearman’s rho (for data that were not normally distributed). Logistic regression analysis with backward elimination was also performed to define variables associated with EAT. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Baseline characteristics of patients

The baseline characteristics of 156 DM patients and 50 control subjects were shown in Table 1. There were no differences with respect to the following variables between diabetic patients and control subjects, age, gender, BMI, waist circumference, DBP, serum levels of triglyceride, TC, LDL-C and eGFR. Control group had significantly lower HbA1c, SBP, serum creatinine, AIP, EAT, NLR and PLR levels while HDL-C and uric acid levels were significantly higher in this group.

Table 1 Demographic, clinic and laboratory features of the study groups
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Evaluation of PLR, NLR, AIP and EAT

Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, NLR, white blood count (WBC) and neutrophil levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients when compared to control group (Table 1). Absolute lymphocyte and platelet counts had no significant difference (p > 0.05). When diabetic patients were separated into two groups according to their median value of EAT (Group 1, EAT < 4.53 (n = 78) and group 2, EAT ≥4.53 (n = 78)), there were no differences with respect to the following variables between these two groups; age, gender, HbA1c, disease duration, SBP, DBP, serum levels of triglyceride, TC, LDL-C, creatinine, uric acid and eGFR (Table 2). Group 2 patients had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference, AIP, NLR and PLR levels while HDL-C levels were significantly lower in this group (Table 2).

Table 2 Demographic, clinic and laboratory features of diabetic patients according to EAT groups
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Correlation analysis

In the bivariate correlation analysis in diabetic patients, EAT was positively correlated with PLR, NLR, AIP, BMI and waist circumference (Table 3). Atherogenic index of plasma was positively correlated with HbA1c and waist circumference (r = 0.197, P = 0.014 and r = 0.159, P = 0.048 respectively).

Table 3 Bivariate correlation results between EAT and other significant parameters in diabetic patients
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We also performed logistic regression analysis to define the variables of EAT (Table 4). Age, duration of diabetes, age, waist circumference, BMI, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, uric acid, LDL-cholesterol, AIP, NLR and PLR were included in this model. Waist circumference was found to be independent variables of EAT.

Table 4 Variables of epicardial adipose tissue
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Discussion

There were five main findings of the present study. First, inflammation markers including PLR and NLR were significantly increased in diabetic patients when compared with control group. Second, AIP and EAT measurements were found to be increased in diabetic patients compared to control subjects. Third, AIP, NLR and PLR were significantly high in patients with higher EAT. Forth, EAT was positively correlated with PLR, NLR, BMI, waist circumference and AIP. Lastly, only waist circumference was found to be independent predictors of increased EAT in diabetic patients.

Chronic low-grade inflammation plays an important role in increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus [14]. During the last two decade, main importance of chronic inflammation was highlightened with the improvements of defining the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in this population [3]. Beyond its other detrimental effects, chronic inflammation may cause endothelial dysfunction secondary to decreasing vasodilatatory mediators including prostaglandins and nitric oxide [15]. In one hand, this chronic situation alters the vasodilatation-vasoconstriction steady state which results in the deterioration of antiatherogenic and antithrombotic properties of the endothelium. On the other hand, hypertension may become prominent secondary to diminished NO levels regardless of other factors that affects blood pressure levels in diabetic patients [16]. Inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β and IL- 6 were found to play a central role in the vicious circle of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in patients with diabetic micro and macrovascular complications [17, 18]. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested that chronic low grade inflammation might play a major role in development of insulin resistance, thus might further proceed to development of overt diabetes mellitus [15].

Recent studies demonstrated that activated neutrophils and platelets could be an important part of increased atherogenesis especially in the era of inflammation commonly seen in chronic diseases [19–21]. Platelets can interact with a variety of different cell types including endothelial cells, dendritic cells, T-lymphocytes, neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes. Additionally, recent studies showed that the interactions of platelets with these cells mentioned above might initiate and exacerbate the inflammation in the arterial wall [22]. There has been an increasing evidence demonstrated that activated platelets could incite leukocyte recruitment to the vessel wall and trigger the inflammation that can mainly seen in the pathogenetic mechanism of atherosclerosis [23].

As novel inflammation markers, PLR and NLR were introduced in cardiac and non-cardiac disorders [5, 24–30]. Moreover, NLR was shown to be related with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients [31, 32]. In the present study, we found that diabetic patients had higher levels of PLR and NLR than control subjects. This might be attributable to increased inflammation in this population.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) originates from the splanchnopleuric mesoderm [33]. Mazurek et al. [34] concluded that, like abdominal visceral adipose tissue, EAT is also metabolically active because it can secrete proinflammatory cytokines and utilize free fatty acids (FFAs). In a recent study, the authors demonstrated that EAT acts an extremely active organ that produces several bioactive adipokines, as well as proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, resistin, visfatin, omentin, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and angiotensinogen [4, 34–37]. We recently showed that EAT is increased in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients [30, 38] and this active visceral fat tissue is closely related with malnutrion-inflammation-atherosclerosis/calcification syndrome (MIAC) in dialysis patients [39].

Atherogenic index of plasma, measured as the logarithmically transformed ratio of the serum triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol, may reflect the actual composition of the lipoprotein spectrum that might predict both the cardiovascular risk and effectiveness of therapy especially in cardiovascular disorders [13]. As an inexpensive research tools, anthropometric parameters are commonly used to assess the risk factors in various metabolic disorders [7]. In this regard, previous studies have shown that anthropometric parameters including waist circumference, body mass index, waist hip ratio, and waist height ratio are useful measures for predicting the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in different patient groups [8, 9].

In the present study, we demonstrated that AIP and EAT measurements were increased in diabetic patients when compared with control subjects. Increased EAT was found to be positively correlated with NLR, PLR, BMI, waist circumference and AIP in patients with diabetes. AIP was significantly increased in diabetic patients who have higher EAT volumes. This association might be attributed to increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines secreted by EAT. Studies have shown an important association between obesity and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetes patients [40].

Increased waist circumference, a sign of obesity, is recognized as an important risk-factor for the development of most features of metabolic syndrome, and has been linked with all-cause mortality [41–43]. There is a significant correlation between epicardial fat measured by echocardiography and waist circumference [44, 45]. Additionally; the relationship between waist circumference, EAT and subclinical inflammation has been proven [34–37, 46–49]. However, a subset of obese individuals who are protected from the development of metabolic disturbances has been identified and called as “metabolically healthy obese” [50]. Epicardial adipose tissue and PLR can be used as inexpensive, non-invasive and simple tests in the differentiation of metabolically healthy obese individuals and metabolically unhealthy obese patients.

In this study, we demonstrated that waist circumference and PLR were closely associated with EAT. In this regard, one potential explanation is that, risk factors of diabetes mellitus, such as obesity, smoking and physical inactivity are associated with chronic low grade inflammation. Hence, the results of the previous studies are in accord with ours and this relation might be secondary to ongoing systemic inflammation, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Calculation of PLR and measurement of waist circumference are quite simple and cheap methods when compared other inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. Our results confirm that PLR and waist measurements might be related to increased EAT in diabetic patients. Therefore, these simple, relatively inexpensive and universally available methods can be used by internists, nephrologists and other health care staff for the first evaluation of inflammation and obesity in patients with diabetes before applying other expensive and invasive procedures.

Iacobellis et al. [51] reported the echocardiographic measurement of EAT for the first time. Measurement of EAT with echocardiography were correlated with EAT measurements by multislice computerized tomography (MSCT) as well as anthropometric and metabolic parameters [24, 30]. Although many researchers advise measuring EAT using MSCT, echocardiography is a simple and inexpensive method for EAT measurement. Hence we preferred using echocardiography to measure EAT.

Our study had three main limitations. First, this was a cross-sectional analysis of diabetic patients focusing on the relationship between PLR, NLR, AIP and EAT. Second, the sample size was relatively small. Third, although EAT has a three dimensional distribution, two dimensional echocardiographic measurements may not be enough to assess the total amount. This was not a prospective controlled study, so we cannot draw cause-and-effect relationships from our findings.

Conclusions

The relation between inflammation and adipose tissue is extremely complex in diabetic patients. However, simple calculation of PLR and measurement of waist circumference can reveal inflammation and EAT in this population. Further randomized and controlled studies evaluating the relationship between PLR, visceral and peripheral adipose tissue in diabetic patients are needed.