title: Early Markers of Atherosclerotic Disease in Individuals with Excess Weight and Dyslipidemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Excessive weight is a cardiovascular risk factor since it generates a chronic inflammatory process that aggravates the endothelial function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the endothelial function in individuals with excess weight and mild dyslipidemia using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD), and the association of endothelial function with anthropometric and biochemical variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study that included 74 individuals and evaluated anthropometric variables (body mass index [BMI], waist-hip ratio [WHR], waist circumference [AC], and percentage of body fat [PBF]), biochemical (blood glucose, insulinemia, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol) and endothelial function (BAFMD, evaluated by ultrasound). The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS, version 16.0. To study the association between the variables, we used chi-square, Student's t and Mann-Whitney tests, and Pearson's correlation. Logistic regression analyzed the independent influence of the factors. Values of p < 0.05 were considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants had a mean age of 50.8 years, and 57% were female. BMI, WC, WHR, and PBF showed no significant association with BAFMD. The male gender (p = 0.02) and higher serum levels of fibrinogen (p = 0.02) were significantly and independently associated with a BAFMD below 8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In individuals with excess weight and mild untreated dyslipidemia, male gender and higher levels of fibrinogen were independently associated with worse BAFMD.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menti
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaffari
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Galarraga
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Regis da Conceição E
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lessa
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pontin
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia Campos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pellanda
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera Lúcia
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Portal
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002784:Cholesterol