Objective: To compare cardiometabolic risk factors between obese and non-obese Thai patients with T2DM.

Material and Method: The cross-sectional study was done in 20 obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and 20 non-obese (BMI ≤23 kg/m2) T2DM. Researchers measured fasting plasma glucose and lipids, serum levels of insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors type 1 and 2 (sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2). Insulin sensitivity check index (QUICIKI) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated.

Results: Thai obese adults with T2DM had greater amounts of sTNF-R2 and HOMA-IR, higher ratios of leptin/adiponectin, and more incidences of hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia in comparison to non-obese counterparts. Additionally, HOMA-IR values in non-obese T2DM were greater than those reported among non-diabetic Thai adults. A reverse association between inflammatory markers (both sTNF-Rs) and HDLC was detected. Leptin/adiponectin ratios correlated directly with HOMA-IR, serum insulin, plasma triglycerides and BMI, whereas HOMA-IR did not relate to any studied plasma lipid.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated an increased cardiometabolic risk in obese T2DM adults than non-obese T2DM adults among the Thai population. The leptin/adiponectin ratio may be more relevant to predict the risk of cardiovascular events in T2DM patients than HOMA-IR.

Keywords: Obesity, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), Insulin resistance, Leptin/adiponectin ratio, sTNF-R