title: Subclinical atherosclerosis determinants in morbid obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, the impact of morbid obesity on vascular structure and function is not well understood. This study was designed to appraise subclinical atherosclerosis markers, including carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), endothelial function, and arterial wall stiffness, and their determinants, in morbidly obese patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this cross-sectional study 194 overweight and obese patients were distributed in morbid-obese patients (MOP, n = 110), obese (OP, n = 84) and overweight patients (OwP, n = 33) groups. Demography, anthropometry, clinical and standard biochemical data were recorded. cIMT, endothelial function, defined as the small artery reactivity index (saRHI), and artery wall rigidity, studied by the augmentation index, were determined. More than 50% of the MOP, OP and OwP had a cIMT above the 75th percentile per age and gender. No differences in cIMT or saRHI were observed, although overweight and obese patients (OOP) had higher arterial rigidity compared with the morbid-obese patients. In a multivariate regression test, while cholesterol was the main determinant of cIMT in overweight and obese patients, glucose metabolism was the determinant in MOP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than half of the population have a cIMT above general population ranges. OwP, OP and MOP have similar cIMT and saRHI. However, OOP have greater arterial wall rigidity. Dysglycemia is the main factor associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in MOP.
authors.affiliation: Dietetics and Nutrition Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Avinguda Josep Laporte Num 1, 43204 Reus, Spain. Electronic address: imegias@grupsagessa.com.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Megias-Rangil
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plana
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heras
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabré
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonada
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabassa
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Sant Joan University Hospital, Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV, CIBERDEM. Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: EndoPAT; Endothelial function; Intima-media thickness; Morbid obesity