title: Arterial stiffness and influences of the metabolic syndrome: a cross-countries study.
abstract: Specific clusters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components impact differentially on arterial stiffness, indexed as pulse wave velocity (PWV). Of note, in several population-based studies participating in the MARE (Metabolic syndrome and Arteries REsearch) Consortium the occurrence of specific clusters of MetS differed markedly across Europe and the US. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether specific clusters of MetS are consistently associated with stiffer arteries in different populations. We studied 20,570 subjects from 9 cohorts representing 8 different European countries and the US participating in the MARE Consortium. MetS was defined in accordance with NCEP ATPIII criteria as the simultaneous alteration in ≥3 of the 5 components: abdominal obesity (W), high triglycerides (T), low HDL cholesterol (H), elevated blood pressure (B), and elevated fasting glucose (G). PWV measured in each cohort was "normalized" to account for different acquisition methods. MetS had an overall prevalence of 24.2% (4985 subjects). MetS accelerated the age-associated increase in PWV levels at any age, and similarly in men and women. MetS clusters TBW, GBW, and GTBW are consistently associated with significantly stiffer arteries to an extent similar or greater than observed in subjects with alteration in all the five MetS components--even after controlling for age, sex, smoking, cholesterol levels, and diabetes mellitus--in all the MARE cohorts. In conclusion, different component clusters of MetS showed varying associations with arterial stiffness (PWV).
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Pisana (HSR) IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: angeloelefante@interfree.it.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scuteri
authors.affiliation: Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Internal Medicine Department, Guimarães, Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimaraes Braga, Portugal; Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Guimaraes Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Università di Brescia, 2° Medicina Generale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agabiti Rosei
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Jolita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badariere
authors.affiliation: Bimetra, Clinical Research Center Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekaert
authors.affiliation: Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cockcroft
authors.affiliation: Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Internal Medicine Department, Guimarães, Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimaraes Braga, Portugal; Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Guimaraes Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biomedic Research (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cucca
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: De Buyzere
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Meyer
authors.affiliation: Scientific Director, IRP NIA, NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Osca
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Nichola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Gillebert
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.affiliation: Clinical Chemistry, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges Hospital, Asklepios Core Lab, and Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Aleksandras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laucevicius
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pompidou Hospital, INSERM U970 and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francesco U S
authors.initials: FUS
authors.lastname: Mattace Raso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA; Loyola College, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Cristopher H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Università di Brescia, 2° Medicina Generale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Lorenza
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Muiesan
authors.affiliation: Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Munnery
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Rokas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navickas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Estudo de Populações, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biomedic Research (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orru'
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biomedic Research (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pilia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ernst R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rietzschel
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Ligita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryliskyte
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Università di Brescia, 2° Medicina Generale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlessinger
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Guimaraes Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strait
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Daele
authors.affiliation: Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Internal Medicine Department, Guimarães, Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimaraes Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlachopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witteman
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xaplanteris
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lakatta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Cross-cultural comparison; Metabolic syndrome; Pulse wave velocity