1. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is defined as a disorder relating to the heart or vasculature (World Health
Organization, 2013). As of 2014, within the UK, CVD stands second only to cancer as the cause greatest cause of
resident mortality, accounting for 28% of patient deaths (British Heart Foundation 2014)
Diabetes mellitus type II (T2D) is characterised by hyperglycaemia, developing due to an inability to effectively
utilize insulin – where cellular resistance to insulin is coupled with a reduction in pancreatic insulin secretion
(World Health Organization, 1999). T2D stands as one of the leading causes of premature morbidity worldwide,
due to associated CVD development (Ho et al., 1993; Grundy et al., 1999).
T2D and CVD are associated with a plethora of risk factors/markers (such as high BMI and raised blood
pressure), both of which are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, as more countries begin to adopt the
‘Western Lifestyle.’(Mente and Yusuf, 2012).
This study aimed to identify correlations between bio-chemical markers and risk factors known to be associated
with CVD and T2D development in the younger population, and determine whether these results were
comparable to existing studies.
Introduction Results
Hypothesis
The Relationship Between Metabolic Risk Markers and Other Relative Risk
Factors for Diabetes Mellitus Type II and Cardiovascular Disease in those
Under 40
The majority of the correlations between the bio-chemical markers (triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose) when
correlated against each other and against known risk factors associated with CVD and T2D, will be found to
express a significant positive correlation. This would support the role of triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose in
the development of CVD and T2D as previously documented in past/ongoing studies.
Discussion
Results for triglycerides found 18 significant correlations against known risk factors for T2D/CVD when assessing
the whole cohort plus males and females separately, many of which were similar to correlations found by larger
studies –therefore reinforcing the fact that triglycerides concentration should be considered an independent
CVD/T2D risk factor (Hokanson and Austin, 1996; Miller et al., 2011; Murad et al., 2012). However, our study
failed to identify a correlation between triglycerides and weight in the total and female cohort, which has long
since been identified as having a strong positive relationship (Sommariva et al., 1986).
Cholesterol results identified correlations between systolic blood pressure and triglycerides, of which are
supported by numerous studies which identify relationships between these findings and increased T2D and CVD
risk (Eeg-Olofsson et al., 2014; Jiang et al., 2004; Thomas et al., 2002).
When analysing the female cohort for glucose correlations, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as
triglycerides were found to be significantly correlated. These results are comparable to those found by published
studies of a far larger cohort (Daboul, 2011; Filipovský et al., 1996). Interestingly, analysis of the male cohort
found no statistical significance between glucose and the T2D/CDV risk factors – contradictory to extensive
research by the Framingham study, which suggests that glucose is greatly linked with a potent risk of CVD and
T2D development (Kannel & McGee, 1979; Mazzone, 2010; Buse, et al., 2007; Libby, et al., 2005).
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Luke Peter Halpin (10202324)
Senior Supervisor- Dr. Carol Rea Life Sciences Research Project BGY3003M
Statistical Analysis:
Using software by Minitab, measurements from the blood analysis and physiological
measurements underwent calculation to determine the means, standard deviations,
Pearson’s correlation. ANCOVA analysis was performed on significant data frpm the
total cohort and regression analysis were performed on significant correlations found
in the separate male and female cohorts
Physiological Measurements:
Measurements for body composition including: height, weight, hip circumference
and waist circumference were taken from each participant. Fat % (via bioelectrical
impedance) and blood pressure were also assessed.
Blood Analysis:
Each sample was centrifuged for 10 minutes at 3500 rpm , allowing the serum to be
extracted and analysed by the ABX-Pentra 400 – concentrations for total triglycerides,
cholesterol and glucose per sample were quantified.
Phlebotomy:
Blood samples were collected from each participant
Participant Recruitment:
Individuals < 40 years old were asked to participate in the study via social media,
word-of-mouth and e-mail. The cohort consisted of 94 participants (32 males, 62
females)
Information Leaflet:
A leaflet outlining the purpose and procedures used in the study was produced.
Background information on CVD and T2D was also included.
Ethical and Risk Assessment:
EA1 and EA2 forms and asCOSHH assessment were completed and approved by the
Life Sciences ethical committee at the University of Lincoln.
Methodology
•Analysis of the total cohort identified 12 significant correlations out of 36 tested parameters for Pearson’s
correlation analysis between triglycerides, glucose and cholesterol against each other and CVD/T2D associated
risk factors (P=< 0.05, with 95% confidence).
•ANCOVA analysis was performed on these significant correlations. 11 of these 12 parameters were found to be
significant which suggested that there was significant difference between data collected between males and
females (see table 1). Therefore, analysis of data was performed on male and female results separately.
•Male cohort Pearson’s correlation identified 8 out of 36 tested parameters, with the following found to be
significant to 95% confidence with a P-value < 0.05:
• Triglycerides against: weight, waist, waist:hip, body fat (% )and BMI
• Cholesterol against: waist:hip, body fat (%) and BMI
•Female cohort Pearson’s correlation identified 8 out of 36 tested parameters, with the following found to be
significant to 95% confidence with a P-value < 0.05:
• Triglycerides against: systolic blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol
• Cholesterol against: systolic blood pressure and triglycerides
• Glucose against: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides
Variable 1 Variable 2 Variable 3 F Value R2 (adj) % P Value
Triglycerides Waist Gender 11.99 13.47 0.001
Triglycerides Hip Gender 3.55 5.98 0.063
Triglycerides Waist:Hip Gender 6.15 8.63 0.015
Triglycerides Systolic Gender 4.84 13.35 0.030
Triglycerides Glucose Gender 5.03 11.20 0.027
Triglycerides Cholesterol Gender 14.20 19.23 <0.001
Triglycerides BMI Gender 10.70 12.36 0.002
Cholesterol Triglycerides Gender 15.49 15.96 <0.001
Glucose Hip Gender 4.83 3.17 0.031
Glucose Systolic Gender 6.86 8.42 0.010
Glucose Diastolic Gender 9.40 7.89 0.003
Glucose Triglycerides Gender 5.40 6.99 0.022
Table 1. ANCOVA results from statistically significant Pearson correlation results of the total cohort.
y = 12.171x + 107
R² (adj) = 0.172
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
AverageSystolicPressure(mmHg)
Triglycerides (mmol/L)
Regression between Triglycerides and Average Systolic Pressure in
Females
y = 3.3371x + 19.46
R² = 0.2096
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
BMI(Kg/m2)
Triglycerides (mmol/L)
Regression between Triglycerides and BMI in Males
Figure 2: A – Under 40 male cohort regression analysis for triglycerides against BMI (P= 0.005); B- Under 40
female cohort regression analysis for Triglycerides against systolic blood (P= < 0.001)
A B
Figure 1: Illustration of BMI classification (Aspiring Bariatics Laproscopy and Endoscopy, 2005)
Conclusion
Many significant correlations were identified between triglycerides, glucose and cholesterol and risk markers for
T2D and CVD, the majority of which were correlative to previously existing studies – and therefore fulfilled the
aim of this study. However, there were some discrepancies between some of the results and widely known
correlations associated with glucose and cholesterol concentrations and risk factors. With CVD and T2D being
amongst the main contributors for premature mortality in the UK, the continuation of research into the
associated risk factors is required to fuel medical advances and disease understanding to effectively lower these
statistics and improve the quality of life for CVD and T2D sufferers for generations to come.