Apolipoproteins (Apo) are known atherogenic factors that play important roles in many mechanisms related to coronary heart disease. The ApoB/ApoA1 ratio is a promising diagnostic tool for metabolic syndrome (MS) in different populations, though its use is not established in Kazakhstan. This study aimed to assess the relationship between MS and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio among hypertensive patients and to evaluate its diagnostic use for identifying MS as an alternative to triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 800 eligible men and women with primary hypertension from April 2015 to December 2016. Data were collected on socio-demographics, lifestyle parameters, family history of cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Dietary Quality Score (DQS), anthropometric data, and blood pressure were recorded; ApoA1 and ApoB levels were measured in blood samples. We found a significant positive association between MS and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio by multiple logistic regression, as shown by a linear trend of increase of the odds ratio (OR) for MS across the quartiles of ApoB/ApoA1 (p < 0.0001). ROC analysis revealed diagnostic significance of the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio for MS, and comparative ROC analysis demonstrated equal diagnostic value of ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and TG levels (AUC = 0.71 (95% CI 0.69; 0.74) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.69, 0.76), respectively), which was significantly higher than those of HDL, ApoA1, ApoB (AUC = 0.27 (95% CI 0.23; 0.31), AUC = 0.37 (95% CI 0.33; 0.41), AUC = 0.67, (95% CI 0.63; 0.71), respectively). The diagnostic value of the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio in Kazakhs with MS appeared to equal that of TG and was significantly higher than that of HDL-C. Adjusting for gender, smoking, and DQS significantly strengthened the association between MS and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio in the Kazakh population.

Dyslipidemia plays an essential role in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The role of lipids and lipoproteins in the early pre-disease state of CKD in hypertensive patients is still unclear. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between early renal dysfunction and lipid profile parameters among hypertensive patients in Kazakhstan. From April 2015 to December 2016, 800 Kazakh males and females with primary hypertension who met the inclusion criteria were included in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected on socio-demographics, lifestyle parameters, family history of cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Additionally, Dietary Quality Score (DQS), anthropometric data, and blood pressure were recorded. Laboratory blood measurements included eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), lipid profile parameters such as Apolipoprotein B, A1, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG. We found a linear relationship between early renal dysfunction and LDL-C, Apolipoprotein B, and Apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio, which was in all cases negative and small (r = −0.27, −0.23 and −0.16, respectively). Apolipoprotein A1, HDL-C and TG have not revealed a linear relationship with GFR (r = −0.06, r = −0.06, and r = −0.045, respectively). The multicollinearity test restricted the linear model to Apolipoprotein B only. Further linear regression analysis confirmed an inverse significant linear association between eGFR and Apolipoprotein B. Age, DQS, and income appear to be positive confounding factors, significantly fitted the final model. ROC analysis had proven the predictive power of Apolipoprotein B in pre-CKD eGFR decline before and after adjustment for age, DQS and income (AUC = 0.62 and AUC = 0.77, respectively). For differentiating non-diabetic subjects with and without pre-CKD eGFR decrease, 1.05 g/L and 0.98 g/L are likely to be optimal cutoff points in males and females, respectively. These findings will help early prediction of renal dysfunction and contribute to a more accurate estimation of CVD risk.