OBJECTIVE

To examine the contribution of insulin resistance (IR) to the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A single-center observational cross-sectional case-control study. The main group included 17 patients with UC, arterial hypertension (AH), and coronary artery disease (CAD). The first comparison group (n=63) consisted of UC patients without CVD, the second comparison group (n=20) included patients with AH and stable CAD, and the control group (n=20) included healthy participants. The study involved surveys, physical examinations, BMI measurement, dynamometry, and blood tests for homocysteine, E-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, leptin, adiponectin, and soluble leptin receptors (SLR). The HOMA-IR index was calculated to assess IR.

RESULTS

Patients with CVD were older and had higher BMI. No association between HOMA-IR and the age of UC patients was found. Dynamopenia was identified in 32.5% of UC patients, and a connection between HOMA-IR and dynamopenia was established; CRP levels were significantly higher in UC patients with dynamopenia. TNF-α levels were higher in patients with both UC and CVD than in only UC patients. Higher HOMA-IR levels were observed in patients with CVD. A positive association was found between HOMA-IR and leptin, VLDL triglycerides, VCAM-1, and a negative association with SLR. A positive correlation was observed between adiponectin and HDL-C.

CONCLUSION

Increased IR in UC patients is facilitated by higher BMI and chronic inflammation, leading to the onset of AH at a younger age compared to comparison groups.