[The association between metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was detected and the atherosclerotic plaque was classified, graded, and scored in 358 retired males, aged 55 approximately 74, including 95 (26.6%) with metabolic syndrome (metabolic syndrome group) and 263 (73.5%) without metabolic syndrome (non-metabolic syndrome group). The correlation of IMT with every characteristic of metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria was studied.


RESULTS
The metabolic syndrome group had higher carotid IMT (0.90 mm +/- 0.12 mm versus 0.84 mm +/- 0.11 mm, P < 0.05), plaque score (3.58 mm +/- 0.44 mm vs 2.45 mm +/- 0.25 mm, P < 0.05), plaque occurrence rate (64.2% vs 47.5%, P < 0.05) and cardiovascular event morbidity (20.0% versus 12.2%, P < 0.05) compared with the non-metabolic syndrome group. IMT was significantly but weakly positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, and waistline (r = 0.27, r = 0.17, r = 0.17 and r = 0.12 respectively, all P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic syndrome accelerates the course of atherosclerosis. Detecting carotid artery as early as possible by vascular ultrasound is helpful to primary prevention of cardiovascular events in the patients with metabolic syndrome.
Liu
Fang
F
Cardiovascular Institute and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China.
Zhang
Hong-ye
HY
Liu
Xiao-ning
XN
Yang
Huan-yi
HY
Kang
Zhao-hui
ZH
Shi
Xiu-zhong
XZ
Yang
Ying
Y
Hui
Ru-tai
RT
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology