Adiponectin concentration data improve the estimation of atherosclerotic risk in normal and in overweight subjects.

Background: The combinations of adipokines and body mass parameters to estimate carotid atherosclerotic disease have not been completely delineated.

Objective: To test the combinations of well-established, easily accessible body mass indices and circulating biomarkers to identify increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in a primary prevention setting.

Design And Patients: In a cross-sectional analysis of 339 asymptomatic individuals with no history of cardiovascular events, inflammatory and insulin sensitivity biomarkers as well as adipokine levels were measured and combined with body mass parameters to evaluate the best marker for increased cIMT.