Relationship of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio with Modifiable Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Healthy Individuals, at a Rural Tertiary Care Centre in Karnataka

Abstract

Objective: Coronary artery disease is most common cardiovascular disease. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple, cost-effective, and widely available inflammatory biomarker, known to be associated with coronary artery disease. Hence the present study aimed to detect if any correlation between NLR and modifiable risk factor parameters for the future development of coronary artery disease among healthy individuals.

Method- Among healthy individuals who came for a physical health checkup to a Rural tertiary care centre in Karnataka from Jan 2022 to Dec 2022 volunteers aged 40-60 years, (120) fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited by simple random sampling. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured, and blood samples withdrawn.  Fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and complete blood count were measured. NLR was noted by dividing a total number of neutrophils by a total number of lymphocytes. Using SPPS software statistical analysis was performed.

Result- This study depicts that 50 (41.6%) volunteers were smokers, 34 (28.3%) were obese, 45(37.5%) had higher waist circumference, 49(40.8%) prediabetics, 4(3.33%) were diabetics, 44(36.6%) prehypertensive, 48(40%) were hyperlipidaemic. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio was positively correlated with Body Mass index (r=0.35, p=0.042), waist circumference (r=0.37, p=0.012), fasting blood sugar(r=0.29, p=0.043), total cholesterol(r=0.467, p=0.0008) and negatively correlated with High-density lipoprotein of <40mg/dl (r= -0.29, p=0.02).

Conclusion- Modifiable risk factors parameters altered were high and positively correlated with NLR indicating that inflammatory changes increase with the level of these risk factors parameters. NLR being simple, cost-effective inflammatory marker can be used to predict coronary artery disease modifiable risk factors.