Association between rectosigmoid adenomas and cardiovascular risk factors: a hospital-based, cross-sectional study

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Little was known about the association between colorectal adenomas and cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to assess the association between rectosigmoid adenomas and related factors.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. We analysed subjects receiving self-referred health examinations at 1 medical centre in Taiwan between 2001 and 2004. In total, 4413 subjects were enrolled in this study. There were 2444 men (55.4%) and 1969 women (44.6%). The mean age was 49.3 +/-12.3 years (range, 20 to 87). All subjects underwent a 60-cm flexible sigmoidoscopic examination and laboratory survey. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were expressed using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the fi nal model, increasing age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06), hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.07-2.07), and alcohol consumption (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.47-3.04) were the risk factors for rectosigmoid adenomas in men. Increasing age was the only risk factor for rectosigmoid adenomas in women (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Age, hypertriglyceridemia and alcohol consumption are associated with rectosigmoid adenomas in men, and only age is significantly associated with rectosigmoid adenomas in women.</p>

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults: a hospital-based study

The constellation of dyslipidemia [hypertriglyceridemia and a low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol], elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and central obesity is identified now as metabolic syndrome, also called syndrome X[1,2]. People with the syndrome are about twice as likely to develop cerebrovascular disease [CVD] and over four times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with subjects who do not have metabolic syndrome[3]. While this syndrome may have a genetic basis [4,5], environmental factors are important modifiable risk factors for the condition. In Chuang's report from Taiwan, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 9.5% [10.6% in men and 8.1% in women] based on the strict NCEP III criteria, and 12.9% [15.5% in men and 10.5% in women, respectively] by the Asian criteria for waist circumference [6]. To further assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan, we gathered and analyzed data on all adults who came to the China Medical University Hospital in Taichung for preventive services from January to December in 2004