Hypertension is the metabolic syndrome component most strongly associated with microvascular complications and coronary artery calcification in Type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components with microvascular complications and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with Type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study included 261 patients with Type 1 diabetes. Patients were assessed regarding the presence of MetS according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria. CAC score was measured in a subset of 100 patients without known cardiovascular disease.


RESULTS
The prevalence of MetS was 13.4% according to the NCEP criteria. Microvascular complications and CAC were more frequent in patients with MetS. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, MetS remained associated with nephropathy [OR: 6.33 (95% CI 2.54-15.77), p<0.001], but not with retinopathy and CAC. Among the MetS components, hypertension was associated with presence of retinopathy [OR: 4.04 (95% CI 1.65- 9.90), p=0.002], nephropathy [OR: 5.92 (95% CI 2.42-14.4), p<0.001] and CAC [OR: 2.97 (95% CI 1.06-8.30), p=0.03].


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension was the only MetS component associated with retinopathy, nephropathy and the presence of CAC. Hypertension was better associated with CAC than MetS itself.
Rodrigues
T C
TC
Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. ticianacr@yahoo.com.br
Canani
L H
LH
Schvartzman
P
P
Gross
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult