title: High-normal blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation and metabolic syndrome have variable impact on central artery stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study compared carotid artery stiffness in metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects with high-normal blood pressure (HNBP) and/or impaired glucose regulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine subjects (40M and 49F, 53.5+/-9.3 years) with either HNBP, impaired glucose regulation, or both were studied. The following measurements were included: risk factors for MS (waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), glucose, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol), and carotid artery stiffness (Doppler ultrasound).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four subjects (20M and 24F) were classified as without MS (MS-) and 45 subjects (20M and 25F) as with MS (MS+). As expected, each component of MS was different between the groups (all p<0.05). Arterial distensibility in MS+ was significantly lower than in MS- (0.152+/-0.010 vs. 0.181+/-0.0091/mmHg x 10(-2), p<0.05), while beta stiffness index was not different between the two groups (12.3+/-1.1 vs. 10.5+/-1.1 AU, p=0.115). Multivariate analysis revealed that carotid artery stiffness was independently associated with resting HR together with age (both p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that, in subjects with HNBP and/or impaired glucose regulation: (1) the presence of MS decreases arterial distensibility of the carotid artery but do not increase beta stiffness index and (2) the presence of MS dose not synergistically increase carotid artery stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario N6C 5J1, Canada.
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: J Kevin
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
authors.forename: Tom J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Overend
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Petrella
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin