Association between presence of the metabolic syndrome and its components with carotid intima-media thickness and carotid and femoral plaque area: a population study

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to explore the association between presence and number of components of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and subclinical atherosclerosis outcomes (common carotid intima media thickness, plaque presence and sum of plaque area) in both the carotid and femoral bifurcations.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of 771 volunteers from the ongoing epidemiological Cyprus Study (46% male; mean age = 60.1 ± 9.8). (a) Carotid intima-media thickness (IMTcc), (b) sum of plaque area in the carotid bifurcations (sum of the largest plaques in each carotid bifurcation-SPAcar), (c) sum of plaque area in the femoral bifurcations (sum of the largest plaques in each femoral bifurcation-SPAfem) and (d) sum of plaque area in both carotid and femoral bifurcations (sum of the areas of the largest plaques present in each of the four bifurcations-SPA) were measured at baseline using ultrasound. Presence and number of components of the MetS was ascertained using the National Cholesterol Education Program ATPIII definition and their association tested using multivariable regression models.ResultsMetS was present in 259 (33.6%) individuals and was associated with a 0.02 mm increase in IMTcc (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.04, p = 0.047) after adjustment for age, sex, family history of CVD, alcohol consumption (BU/week) and smoking (pack-years). Each additional component of the MetS was associated with a 16% higher SPA (95% CI: 6.8% to 25.2%, pfor trend = 0.001), a 10% higher SPAcar (95% CI: 5% to 24%, pfor trend = 0.003) and a 14% higher SPAfem in the adjusted model.ConclusionsWe confirm an association between the MetS and IMTcc as well as report for the first time an association between the MetS and its components and femoral plaque area, in a general population over 40 years of age. Having any risk factors for the MetS increases the risk for subclinical atherosclerosis, with the risk increasing with each additional component. Using the dichotomous definition of the MetS may be overlooking the risk for subclinical atherosclerosis –and by inference future cardiovascular events- associated with having less than 3 risk factors.

Risk factors of carotid plaque and carotid common artery intima‐media thickening in a high‐stroke‐risk population

“…These studies have explored the association between traditional cardiovascular or cerebrovascular risk factors, such as serum lipid parameter, age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking and CPs or CIMT. It was agreed consistently that these risk factors increased the presence of CPs and CIMT (Calmarza, Trejo, Lapresta, & Lopez, 2015; Panayiotou et al., 2013; Tiozzo et al., 2014; Touboul et al., 2011; Yang et al., 2014; Zhan et al., 2016). In this study, the independent risk factors of CP were male gender, age, high FBG and LDL‐C levels, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and smoking; the risk factors of CCAIMT were male gender, age, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, AF or valvulopathy and smoking, whereas alcohol use was associated with a lower risk.…”

An observational study on the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome with gall stone disease requiring cholecystectomy

“…Metabolic syndrome has the prevalence of 25% in Europe [34] and 10–19% in Asia [35]. The contributing factors for metabolic syndrome include sedentary lifestyle, genetic predisposition Specific macronutrients, and higher intake of total energy.…”

Angiopoietin-2, its soluble receptor Tie-2 and subclinical cardiovascular disease in a population-based sample

“…Adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors rendered these associations statistically non-significant, suggesting that part of this association is mediated through traditional risk factors (see above). STie-2 is particularly related to metabolic risk factors, including body composition, lipid traits and diabetes,24 which are also correlated with vascular structure and function 27 28…”