What is the Atherosclerosis Index?

Atherosclerosis is a common disease problem among the elderly, so we should pay attention to monitoring the atherosclerosis index and understand our own physical health status, so that we can receive timely treatment and reduce the harm of these diseases.

1. The atherosclerosis index is an indicator developed by the international medical community to measure the degree of arteriosclerosis.

2. Arteriosclerosis is a degenerative and proliferative disease that can cause the thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity of the arteries, and eventually lead to stenosis of the lumen. It is more common in the elderly. Large, medium, and small arteries may be affected. According to different pathological changes, it can be divided into three types: atherosclerosis, medial arteriosclerosis and arteriolar sclerosis. (atherosclerosis AS): The basic damage is the local plaque-like thickening of the arterial intima, so it is also called atherosclerotic plaque or simply plaque. The lesions mainly affect the aorta, coronary arteries, cerebral arteries, renal arteries, large and medium-sized elastic arteries, eventually leading to their luminal stenosis or even complete blockage, causing ischemia, hypoxia, dysfunction and even death of these important organs. It is more common in men over 40 years old and menopausal women. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it may be related to factors such as aging, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and obesity.

3. Its calculation method is: Arteriosclerosis index (AI) = [total cholesterol (TC) - high-density lipoprotein (HDL)] ÷ high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Its normal value is <4. If a person's arteriosclerosis index is <4, it reflects that the degree of arteriosclerosis is not serious or is decreasing. The smaller the value, the lighter the degree of arteriosclerosis, and the lower the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. If the arteriosclerosis index is ≥4, it means that arteriosclerosis has occurred. The larger the value, the more severe the degree of arteriosclerosis, and the higher the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.