Lipid Levels and Atherogenic Indices as Important Predictive Parameters in the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis—Slovak Pilot Study

<i>Background and Objective</i>: Tuberculosis is one of the globally prevalent infectious diseases. Lipids play a crucial role in its development as well as in other diseases of the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular diseases significantly worsen the functional and vital prognosis of tuberculosis patients. The aim of the study was to assess the differences in lipid profile, glucose, and atherogenic markers between tuberculosis patients and healthy individuals. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: The project involved 34 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and a control group (CG: n = 35). The following were assessed: total cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and glucose. Atherogenic indices: Castelli risk index I (CRI-I), Castelli risk index II (CRI-II), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and atherogenic coefficient (AC) were calculated from lipid profile parameters using appropriate formulas. <i>Results</i>: A statistically significant difference was found between CG and TB in the parameters CHOL, LDL and HDL (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Based on the calculated atherogenic indices CRI-I and AIP, people diagnosed with TB can be classified into the high cardiovascular risk group. By fitting the ROC curve, atherogenic indices were shown to be effective predictors of cardiovascular risk in people with tuberculosis. <i>Conclusions</i>: Atherogenic indices are useful markers for detecting cardiovascular disease in patients with tuberculosis and may help identify cardiovascular risks that might otherwise be missed.