ABSTRACT
AIM: The presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and we aimed to assess the outcome in subjects with the MS and subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: We followed-up for five years 339 Mediterranean subjects with asymptomatic carotid intima-media thickness >0.9 mm (men: 60%; age: 66±5 years), of whom 130 had the MS (men: 59%; age: 66±5 years), evaluating at baseline traditional cardiovascular risk factors (including male gender, older age, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, family history of cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia) and plasma levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. RESULTS: Cardio- and cerebrovascular events were registered in the 29% of subjects with the MS and in the 20% of those without it and the presence of more criteria for the diagnosis of the MS was significantly associated with vascular morbidity and mortality. By multivariate analysis, including all baseline variables, independent predictive roles for the events were found for elevated markers of inflammation (OR 3.8), elevated fasting glucose (OR 2.1) and elevated triglycerides (OR 1.4). CONCLUSION: These findings confirm a worst vascular outcome in subjects with more criteria for the diagnosis of the MS and further suggest the need of future research to understand the combined role of inflammation and the MS in the progression from subclinical to clinical atherosclerosis.
Subject(s)
Atherosclerosis/etiology , Inflammation/etiology , Metabolic Syndrome/complications , Aged , Disease Progression , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Prospective StudiesSubject(s)
Diagnostic Imaging/standards , Ultrasonography/standards , Vascular Diseases/diagnosis , Ankle Brachial Index , Blood Circulation , Blood Flow Velocity , Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous , Blood Vessel Prosthesis , Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation , Blood Vessels/pathology , Carotid Intima-Media Thickness , Constriction, Pathologic/diagnosis , Electric Impedance , Exercise Test , Female , Genitalia, Female/blood supply , Humans , Impotence, Vasculogenic/diagnosis , Lower Extremity/anatomy & histology , Lower Extremity/blood supply , Lymphedema/diagnosis , Male , Nitroglycerin , Patient Positioning , Pelvic Pain/etiology , Penis/blood supply , Photoplethysmography , Plaque, Atherosclerotic/pathology , Postoperative Care , Spermatic Cord/blood supply , Stents , Ultrasonography/methods , Upper Extremity/anatomy & histology , Upper Extremity/blood supply , Vascular Diseases/therapy , Vascular Patency , Vasodilator AgentsSubject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Blood Pressure , Body Weight , Cholesterol/blood , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Italy , Male , Middle Aged , Physical Exertion , Risk , Smoking , Triglycerides/blood , Uric Acid/metabolismABSTRACT
The Brisighella Study was performed in a little Emilia-Romagna town with agricultural background to observe coronary heart disease risk factors in this population. At entry, 1972, 1491 males and 1448 females were controlled from the residents of the inner part of the town. The participation response was very high (93%). In this study the hypertension evaluation as risk factor is reported. Measurement of blood pressure has been made in according to W.H.O. criteria. Blood pressure mean values, hypertension prevalence, borderline blood pressure prevalence and hypertension control level have been recorded. The male subjects with hypertension were 33.53%, while female subjects were 33.77%. Borderline blood pressure was higher in males than in females (32.0% vs. 25.7%). Hypertension control level in the examined sample was quite low, however, it appears higher than other reported in similar studies.
