The impact of metabolic syndrome on left ventricular myocardial performance.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent prospective studies suggested that MetS is associated with increased risk of heart failure. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined the association between left ventricular myocardial performance with MetS.


METHODS
A total of 550 non-diabetic subjects, 275 without MetS and 275 with MetS, matched for gender, age and body mass index and free of clinically apparent macrovascular disease were studied. MetS was diagnosed using the NCEP-ATP III criteria. Left ventricular myocardial performance was assessed using the Tei index.


RESULTS
Both men and women with MetS had higher values of the Tei index, indicating worse myocardial performance, in comparison with those without MetS (p < 0.001). Participants with a cluster of more components of the MetS had higher Tei index values than those with fewer components of the MetS. In addition, among normotensive subjects, those with MetS had significantly higher Tei index values than subjects without MetS. Multivariate linear regression analysis, after adjustment for age and body mass index, demonstrated that MetS status and from the individual components of the MetS, high fasting blood glucose levels, higher blood pressure, low high density lipoprotein levels and high waist circumference were associated with worse myocardial performance.


CONCLUSIONS
MetS is associated with subclinical myocardial dysfunction in both men and women. Strategies to reduce the cardiovascular burden and the risk of heart failure associated with MetS should aim at prevention of the MetS and its related conditions.
First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, 33 Lakonias Street, Athens, Greece.
Christina
C
Voulgari
Ioannis
I
Moyssakis
Athanasia
A
Papazafiropoulou
Despoina
D
Perrea
Despoina
D
Kyriaki
Nicholas
N
Katsilambros
Nicholas
N
Tentolouris
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose