Ferritin and transferrin are associated with metabolic syndrome abnormalities and their change over time in a general population: Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to study cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between iron stocks (ferritin) and the iron transport protein (transferrin) with the metabolic syndrome and its abnormalities. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 469 men and 278 premenopausal and 197 postmenopausal women from the French Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR) cohort, aged 30-65 years, were followed over 6 years. RESULTS: Higher concentrations of both ferritin and transferrin were associated with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults Adult Treatment Panel III original and revised definitions of the metabolic syndrome at baseline: for the IDF definition of the metabolic syndrome, the standardized, age-adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for log(ferritin) were 1.49 (1.14-1.94) for men, 2.10 (1.27-3.48) for premenopausal women, and 1.80 (1.21-2.68) for postmenopausal women; for transferrin they were, respectively, 1.94 (1.53-2.47), 2.22 (1.32-3.75), and 2.14 (1.47-3.10). After 6 years of follow-up, the change in the presence of the metabolic syndrome was associated with higher baseline values in all three groups: log(ferritin), 1.46 (1.13-1.89), 1.28 (0.85-1.94), and 1.62 (1.10-2.38); and transferrin, 1.41 (1.10-1.81), 1.63 (1.05-2.52), and 1.51 (1.02-2.22). Among syndrome components, hypertriglyceridemia at 6 years was the component most strongly associated with baseline ferritin and transferrin. The odds of an incident IDF-defined metabolic syndrome after 6 years was more than fourfold higher when ferritin and transferrin values were both above the group-specific top tertile, in comparison with participants with both parameters below these thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective study associating ferritin and transferrin with the metabolic syndrome and its components. When both markers of the iron metabolism are elevated, the incidence of the metabolic syndrome is increased in men and both pre- and postmenopausal women.

Use of HbA1c in predicting progression to diabetes in French men and women: data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR).

OBJECTIVE: Early identification of subjects at high risk for diabetes is essential, and random HbA(1c) (A1C) may be more practical than fasting plasma glucose (FPG). The predictive value of A1C, in comparison to FPG, is evaluated for 6-year incident diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: From the French cohort study Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR), 1,383 men and 1,437 women, aged 30-65 years, were volunteers for a routine health check-up. Incident diabetes was defined by FPG >or=7.0 mmol/l or treatment by antidiabetic drugs. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict diabetes at 6 years. Receiver operating characteristic curves compared the predictive values of A1C and FPG. RESULTS: At 6 years, 30 women (2.1%) and 60 men (4.3%) had developed diabetes. Diabetes risk increased exponentially with A1C in both sexes (P < 0.001). After stratifying on FPG, A1C predicted diabetes only in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (FPG >or=6.10 mmol/l): the odds ratio (95% CI) for a 1% increase in A1C was 7.20 (3.00-17.00). In these subjects, an A1C of 5.9% gave an optimal sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 77% to predict diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: A1C predicted diabetes, even though the diagnosis of diabetes was based on FPG, but it was less sensitive and specific than FPG. It could be used as a test if fasting blood sampling was not available or in association with FPG. In subjects with IFG, A1C is better than glucose to evaluate diabetes risk, and it could be used to select subjects for intensive early intervention.

Evaluation of an immunochemical fecal occult blood test with automated reading in screening for colorectal cancer in a general average-risk population.

Colorectal cancer screening is a high public health priority in all industrialized countries. However, the low sensitivity of the common guaiac screening test (HemoccultII) makes practitioners and public health decision makers reluctant to set up a national screening program. In recent years, immunochemical tests based on the use of a specific antibody have been found to be more sensitive than the HemoccultII test. However, for screening purposes, any gain in sensitivity is of interest only if specificity and positive predictive value are satisfactory. Our aim was to assess the performance of an immunochemical test with an automated reading technique (Magstream 1000) for different hemoglobin content cut-off points. The study was carried out in the general population aged 50-74 years in the geographic area of Cotentin (Normandy, France). From 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002, 7,421 one-time screening tests (Magstream) were administered by general practitioners and occupational physicians to patients at the end of regular consultations. Colonoscopy was proposed to the 434 people with a positive test. All cancers occurring in the study population between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2003 were collected by general practitioners, gastroenterologists and the local registry. At the usual positivity threshold (20 ng hemoglobin/ml), screening sensitivity and specificity at 2 years of follow-up with 95% CIs were, respectively, 0.85 (0.72-0.98) and 0.94 (0.94-0.95). If the hemoglobin content cut-off point had been set at 50 ng/ml instead of the usual cut-off, positivity would have been 3.1% and positive predictive value for a cancer or a large adenoma would have been 0.49, with sensitivity of 0.68-0.83 and specificity of 0.97. Our results suggest that use of an immunochemical test with an automated reading technique could improve the prospects for mass-screening for colorectal cancer since it offers a promising alternative to guaiac tests.

The risk of hypertension in men: direct and indirect effects of chronic smoking.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the risk of hypertension associated with smoking status. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study in 12 417 men screened for a routine medical and biological check-up provided by their medical insurance at the 'Institut inter-Régional pour la Santé' (IRSA, Regional Institute for Health), a group of 10 medical centres in Western and Central France. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence and the relative risk of hypertension associated with smoking status. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in former smokers than in never smokers (13.5 versus 8.8%, P < 0.001). The risk of hypertension was higher [odds ratio (OR) 1.31 (1.13-1.52), P < 0.001] in former smokers than in never smokers, independently of age and alcohol intake. Both current and former smokers were at risk for systolic hypertension, especially those subjects aged 60 years and above. The risk of hypertension was associated with the number of cigarettes smoked [OR per 10 cigarettes smoked daily: 1.13 (1.05-1.21), P < 0.001] and the duration of smoking cessation [OR 0.99 (0.98-1.00), P = 0.01]. When body mass index was entered into the model, the risk of hypertension in former smokers was no longer significant; however, current smokers remained at risk for systolic hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Former smokers are at risk for hypertension, probably because of the higher prevalence of overweight and obese subjects in this group. Current smokers are also at risk for systolic hypertension, especially in those subjects aged 60 years or older. However, this risk is independent of body mass index.