title: The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in polymyositis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that are associated with increased cardiovascular diseases (CVD). MetS has been systematically evaluated in all systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases except for polymyositis (PM). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of MetS in PM patients and analyse the possible association of MetS with traditional risk factors of CVD and PM-related clinical and laboratory features.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional, single-centre study included 35 consecutive PM patients (Bohan and Peter, 1975) and 70 healthy controls. MetS diagnosis was determined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age, gender and ethnicity distributions between the PM and control groups were comparable (p>0.050). The median PM disease duration was 5 years. Compared with healthy subjects, PM patients had higher prevalence of MetS (45.7% vs. 20.0%, p=0.011). In an additional univariate analysis of PM patients with (n=26) and without (n=19) MetS revealed that patients with this complication were older (56.1±7.8 vs. 44.3±12.8 years; p=0.002) with more cumulative prednisolone doses, higher scores on the health assessment questionnaire and on the physician visual analogue scale (p<0.050). Disease duration was comparable between both groups (p>0.050).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MetS and CVD risks are highly prevalent in PM. Monitoring for and early treatments of modifiable risk factors for CVD in PM patients are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. fhcsouza@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernando H C
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Samuel K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shinjo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone