The link between the atherogenic index of plasma and the risk of hypertension: Analysis from NHANES 2017-2020

Background The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a newly identified metabolic marker for atherosclerosis. However, there are inconsistent conclusions regarding the relationship between AIP and hypertension. Methods The study subjects were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2017 to 2020. Logistic regression analyses were employed to explore the correlation between AIP and hypertension. The value of AIP in predicting hypertension was assessed using ROC curves, and their nonlinear relationship was described using restricted cubic splines (RCS). Subgroup analyses, interactions, and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results The study included 7,067 participants who were sourced from the NHANES database. There were 2723 participants diagnosed hypertension. We observed a notable correlation between AIP and hypertension (OR:1.89, 95%CI: 1.11-3.22, P = 0.019). ROC curve showed AIP had a good predictive value for the onset of hypertension, with the AUC of 0.652 (95% CI:0.639-0.664, p<0.001). RCS found that there existed a nonlinear association between AIP and the incidence of hypertension (p<0.001). Even after excluding individuals under the age of 40 years old, the results still indicate a strong association between AIP and hypertension. Conclusions AIP may serve as an early biological marker for identifying hypertension, facilitating early screening of susceptible populations.