title: Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in a tunisian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of disorders that produces a high risk of atherosclerosis. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome clearly varies depending on ethnicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its relationship with significant coronary stenosis (SCS) in a Tunisian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. SCS was defined as a luminal narrowing of more or equal to 50% in at least 1 major coronary artery, as judged by coronary angiography. A total of 192 subjects documented by coronary angiography were recruited from the cardiology department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 54.2% (n = 104) of patients presented with metabolic syndrome, with a higher prevalence among women (65.9% vs. 45.5%; P = 0.004). In the subjects with metabolic syndrome, the fasting hyperglycemia was the most common metabolic disorder (86.5%). The risk of SCS increased approximately 3-fold in the presence of metabolic syndrome [odds ratio (OR) = 3.38, P = 0.004]. In addition, SCS risk was increased according to the increase in the number of metabolic syndrome components. The most atherogenic profile was that which assembled five metabolic syndorme components (OR = 4.18, P = 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the risk of SCS in the presence of metabolic syndrome. In fact, the OR of SCS associated with metabolic syndrome was (4.96, P = 0.001) in participants in the highest quartile of HOMA-IR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for SCS. The detection, prevention, and treatment of the underlying risk factors of metabolic syndrome should become an important approach for reduction of the cardiovascular disease burden in our study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, UR MSP 28/04, Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Jihène
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rejeb
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omezzine
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boumaiza
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rebhi
authors.forename: Nesrine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalboussi
authors.forename: Abdallah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laouini
authors.forename: Nabila Ben
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Rejeb
authors.forename: Naoufel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nabli
authors.forename: Ahmed Ben
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.forename: Essia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boughzala
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouslama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology