title: Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery parameter in Koreans aged 50 years and older.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have reported on the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and carotid artery structure. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between MetS and carotid artery parameters such as the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), plaques, and the diameter of the common carotid artery (CCAd).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 1.730 community-dwelling Koreans aged 50 years and older without hypertension, diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia. MetS was defined according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The risk for abnormal CCA-IMT (>or=1.00 mm) was significant in women with MetS (odds ratio (OR) 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-4.31), but not in men with MetS (OR 1.06; 95%CI 0.39-2.91). No significant relationship between MetS and carotid plaques was observed in either sex. The relationship between MetS and high CCAd (highest quintile) was significant in both men (OR 2.19; 95%CI 1.38-3.49) and women (OR 2.02; 95%CI 1.39-2.94).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MetS independently correlates with carotid atherosclerosis and carotid enlargement. The effect of MetS on carotid atherosclerosis is more pronounced in women than in men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seonam University, Namwon city, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Jung-Ae
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Hye-Ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jin-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography