Comparative analysis of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4) levels in obese acute myocardial infarction patients across age groups

Background Age is a well-established risk factor for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), yet the incidence of AMI in younger individuals is rising, often linked to obesity. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), an adipokine with pro-inflammatory effects, is elevated in obesity, aging, and AMI. However, whether age-related differences in RBP4 expression exist among obese AMI patients remains unclear. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 78 obese patients with AMI were stratified into younger (< 50 years, n = 30) and older (> 50 years, n = 48) groups. Central obesity was defined as a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) > 0.5. Body fat distribution was assessed by bioimpedance analysis, while serum RBP4 concentrations were quantified using ELISA. Lipid and glucose profiles were obtained from medical records. Results Younger patients exhibited higher mean RBP4 levels than older patients (98.3 ± 37.6 ng/mL vs. 86.7 ± 39.1 ng/mL; p = 0.19), although the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in younger patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions Younger obese patients with AMI demonstrated a more adverse metabolic profile, including elevated triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, alongside a non-significant trend toward higher RBP4 levels. These findings suggest that lipid dysregulation and adipokine imbalance may contribute to premature cardiovascular risk in younger obese individuals, underscoring the need for further longitudinal and mechanistic studies.