Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery parameter in Koreans aged 50 years and older.
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.
Lee
Young-Hoon
YH
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seonam University, Namwon city, South Korea.
Shin
Min-Ho
MH
Kweon
Sun-Seog
SS
Rhee
Jung-Ae
JA
Ryu
So-Yeon
SY
Ahn
Hye-Ran
HR
Choi
Jin-Su
JS
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