BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for >17 million deaths globally each year and this figure is expected to grow to 23.6 million by 2030. According to the WHO report, one-third of ischemic heart disease is attributable to high cholesterol. There have been some claims that the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), which is the logarithmic transformation of the just-mentioned ratio (TG/HDL-C), could be used as a significant predictor of atherosclerosis, and CVD as well. Thus, we aimed to study the relationship between AIP and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The cross-sectional hospital based study was conducted including 117 participants aged between 40-72 years old without cardiovascular symptoms were recruited from Second General Hospital. After filled consent form, participants’ habits of smoking, alcohol usage, obesity, arterial hypertension and sedentary lifestyle were assessed through a structured questionnaire and physical examination. By using fully automated open-system analyzer, determinations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) three times and glucose twice were performed simultaneously and then their averages were calculated. At least one abnormal lipid level was considered as “dyslipidemia”. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) was calculated as the logarithmically transformed ratio of molar concentrations of TG to HDL-C. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of total 117 participants ranging 40-72 years old, 45.3% were male and 54.7% were female with mean age 53.6±0.79. Regarding cardiovascular risk factors, 63.8% were physically inactive, 32.48% were smokers, 47% were alcohol user, 48% were hypertensive, and 18.26% were diabetic. The mean values plus standard error of lipid components were 195.5±6.09 mg/dL in cholesterol, 181.25±27.36 mg/dL in triglycerides, 60.6±1.39 mg/dL in HDL-C, 138.5±3.74 mg/dL in LDL-C, 6.27±0.26 mmol/L in fasting glucose. The dyslipidemia was detected in 54.7% of total participants and mean level of AIP was 0.33±0.03 (min=-0.52; max=1.51). The mean levels of 10 year and lifetime risk were 6.25±0.63% (min=0.2; max=33.5) and 43±1.53% (min=7.5; max=69), respectively. AIP had weak correlations with gender, smoking, anti-hypertensive drug usage, aspirin usage, 10 year and lifetime risks of CVD, hypertension, fasting glucose, body mass index, and dyslipidemia (0.2