Abstract:Aim To explore the association between atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and its anthropometric-derived indicators AIP-waist-to-height ratio (AIP-WHtR) and AIP-body roundness index (AIP-BRI) and the long-term risk of stroke in middle-aged and elderly populations. Methods The study population was derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Incident stroke cases were identified through self-reported questionnaire data.Enzyme-catalyzed colorimetric method was used to measure the levels of triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) in the blood of participants, and AIP and its anthropometric-derived indicators AIP-WHtR and AIP-BRI were calculated. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between cumulative and categorical AIP and its anthropometric-derived indicators AIP-WHtR, AIP-BRI and stroke occurrence. Restrictied cubic spline was used to explore the potential nonlinear relationships between cumulative AIP and its anthropometric-derived indicators AIP-WHtR, AIP-BRI and the risk of stroke. Results The average age of 8 454 participants was (60.65±9.29) years, and during a median follow-up period of 7 years, a total of 670 participants (7.93%) had a new onset of stroke. After fully adjusting for confounding factors, for per 1-standard-deviation increment in AIP, the risk of stroke increased by 21% (HR=1.1,5%CI:1.09~1.33, P<0.001). Similarly, higher levels of AIP-WHtR (HR=1.0,5%CI:1.18~1.66, P<0.001) and AIP-BRI (HR=1.4,5%CI:1.02~1.06, P<0.001) were positively correlated with increased risk of stroke. Restrictive cubic spline analysis showed a positive dose-response relationship between AIP and its anthropometric-derived indicators AIP-WHtR, AIP-BRI and the risk of stroke, with a significant nonlinear trend. In addition, subgroup analysis further confirmed that higher AIP levels were associated with an increased risk of stroke in males (HR=1.5,5%CI:1.08~1.44, P<0.001), whereas the association was not significant in females (HR=1.5,5%CI:1.00~1.32, P=0.050). Conclusion In the middle-aged and elderly population, higher levels of AIP and its anthropometric-derived indicators AIP-WHtR and AIP-BRI are positively correlated with increased risk of stroke, and these indicators may serve as effective risk of stroke assessment tools.