title: The relationship between the metabolic syndrome and arterial wall thickness: A mosaic still to be interpreted.
abstract: We aimed to identify clusters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, risky for extremely high intima-media thickness.
  
  
  
  We studied 41,513 volunteers (men and women) from eleven cohorts worldwide, participating in the MARE (Metabolic syndrome and Artery REsearch) Consortium.
  
  
  
  Specific clusters of MetS components - high triglycerides-high blood pressure-abdominal obesity (TBW), low HDL cholesterol-high blood pressure-abdominal obesity (HBW), high glucose-high blood pressure-abdominal obesity (GBW) - were accompanied by a 50-90% significantly greater likelihood of presenting extremely high intima-media thickness (via ultrasound of carotid artery, CCA IMT), after controlling for age, sex, smoking, non-HDL cholesterol, and presence of diabetes mellitus. This likelihood is comparable to the effect of being 7-8 years older or of being a cigarette smoker or of having non-HDL cholesterol 50 mg/dl higher.
  
  
  
  The consistent association of specific clusters of MetS components with extremely thick (older) large artery cross-culturally suggests that identification of those clusters in clinical practice will facilitate a personalized health care and a better - i.e. more healthy and cost-effective - prevention of major cardiovascular (CV) events.
authors: Department of Medicine, UOC Hypertension and Nephrology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: angeloelefante@interfree.it.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Scuteri
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Oscar H
authors: OH
authors: Franco
authors: Laboratory Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors: AlGhatrif
authors: A
authors: Majiid
authors: Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Badariene
authors: B
authors: Jolita
authors: Department of Aging and Age-associated Diseases Prevention, National Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors: Boytsov
authors: B
authors: Sergey
authors: Department of Public Health - and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hao-Min
authors: HM
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Public Health - and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chen-Huan
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seong-Woo
authors: SW
authors: Choi
authors: Institute of Genetics and Biomedic Research (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Cucca
authors: C
authors: Francesco
authors: Bimetra, Clinical Research Center Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Marc L
authors: ML
authors: De Buyzere
authors: Institute of Genetics and Biomedic Research (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Delitala
authors: D
authors: Alessandro
authors: DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine B, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Dörr
authors: D
authors: Marcus
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Engstrom
authors: E
authors: Gunnar
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Hofman
authors: H
authors: Albert
authors: Department of Neurology & Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chobuk National University-Biomedical Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jeong
authors: J
authors: Seul-Ki
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sun-Seog
authors: SS
authors: Kweon
authors: Clinical Chemistry, AZ Saint-Jan Bruges Hospital, Asklepios Core Lab, And Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Langlois
authors: L
authors: Michel
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young-Hoon
authors: YH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Mattace Raso
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Melander
authors: M
authors: Olle
authors: Laboratory Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA; Loyola College, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Cristopher H
authors: CH
authors: Morrell
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Namwon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kyeong-Soo
authors: KS
authors: Park
authors: Bimetra, Clinical Research Center Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Ernst R
authors: ER
authors: Rietzschel
authors: Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Ryliskiene
authors: R
authors: Kristina
authors: Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Ligita
authors: L
authors: Ryliskyte
authors: DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine B, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Schminke
authors: S
authors: Ulf
authors: Laboratory of Genetics, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Schlessinger
authors: S
authors: David
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Min-Ho
authors: MH
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Aging and Age-associated Diseases Prevention, National Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors: Strazhesko
authors: S
authors: Irina
authors: Department of Public Health - and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Sung
authors: S
authors: Shih-Hsien
authors: Department of Aging and Age-associated Diseases Prevention, National Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors: Tkacheva
authors: T
authors: Olga
authors: DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine B, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Völzke
authors: Laboratory Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Edward G
authors: EG
authors: Lakatta
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D015897:Comorbidity; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D066253:Vascular Remodeling
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Arterial ageing; Arteries; Carotid intima-media thickness; Metabolic syndrome