What is the coefficient of atherogenicity?

At present, the pathology of the cardiovascular system has become more widespread. Among them, one can often find such a disease as atherosclerosis, which leads not only to the deterioration of patients' well-being, but also creates a serious threat to their lives.

How to assess the risk of developing atherosclerosis?

Today there is such a thing as the "coefficient of atherogenicity".

This indicator is calculated, and is calculated based on the total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, HDL and triglyceride data. The coefficient of atherogenicity is an integral indicator that allows to predict the risk of developing atherosclerosis with a high accuracy.

The coefficient of atherogenicity is determined by subtracting the ratio of HDL to VLDL from the total cholesterol.

It is the ratio of high-density lipoproteins to density lipoproteins that is very low, having the greatest effect on the coefficient value.

The value of the coefficient should not exceed 2.5-3 depending on age. If the atherogenic coefficient is above the norm and is between three and four, the risk of developing atherosclerosis is moderate, above four, it is extremely high. In the latter variant, the development of atherosclerosis can begin in the next few months or even weeks.

If the patient has a disease, the value of the indicator can go up to seven units. In this case, treatment with drugs that lower cholesterol is required.

The coefficient of atherogenicity is determined by the data of serum cholesterol content, which depend on heredity factors, the presence of arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, adynamia and prolonged nervous overstrain.

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is unexplored until the end. Today experts of the World Health Organization characterized this pathological process as changing intima of arteries with accumulation of fats, complex carbohydrates, the formation of connective tissue in the place of direct damage to the vascular endothelium.

Modern studies have made it possible to determine in more detail the biophysical and biochemical processes taking place in the intima of the vessels. Penetrating into the endothelium of vessels of LDL and HDL cause the development of catabolic reactions of cholesterol.

The stage of fibrous plaque implies the weakening of the transport of low density lipoproteins into the arterial wall and the activation of catabolic HDL reactions.

Among all the diagnostic methods, it is the atherogenicity coefficient that allows the patient to be monitored reliably, as well as to determine the risk of developing atherosclerosis. The latter allows timely conduct preventive, therapeutic manipulations and prevent the development of the disease.

What is dangerous atherosclerosis?

Most often this disease develops in the vessels of the lower extremities, leading to intermittent claudication in severe cases, which significantly limits the functional state of a person.

The development of plaques in the blood vessels (blood supply to the heart muscle) leads to the development of angina and heart attack, which creates a high risk for the life of patients.

The coefficient of atherogenicity is also increased in the case when the development of the pathology of the cerebral vessels takes place. The clinical picture in this case is as follows: the patient deteriorates memory, eyesight and reduced attention.

The development of atherosclerosis occurs in almost all people, beginning with the age of forty-five. However, the danger of the disease lies in the fact that this pathology is substantially "rejuvenated" and today it occurs even in newborn children. This process creates a serious threat to the life of the future generation, which is why it is so important to conduct additional studies, diagnose and treat atherosclerosis at the initial stages of its development.