Objective: To evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome, endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic middle-aged individuals.
Materials and methods: A total of 180 subjects (86 men and 94 women, mean age 38.8+/-0.3 years) have been investigated. Anthropometric, blood pressure measurements have been performed and lipid as well as high sensitivity C-reactive protein blood levels have been tested. The endothelial function was assessed by measuring the vasodilatation of the brachial artery. The carotid intima-media thickness was measured with high resolution B-mode ultrasound imaging. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation definition criteria (2005).
Results: The metabolic syndrome has been diagnosed in 48 (26.7%) individuals: 28 (32.6%) males and 20 (21.3%) females. Significantly reduced endothelial function has been established in asymptomatic men when compared to women. However, statistically significant decrease (4.84%) in endothelial function in metabolic individuals was detected only among males. In the metabolic patients intima-media of common carotid artery, carotid bulb and internal carotid artery was thicker than in those without metabolic syndrome (0.006, 0.007 and 0.007 cm, respectively) (alpha=0.000, beta=0.01). Endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening correlated with increased blood pressure, abdominal circumference and body mass index as well as with elevated blood triglyceride and glucose levels. Intima-media thickness was greater in individuals with impaired endothelial function in all carotid segments tested. No relationship has been observed between total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and endothelial function, intima-media thickening or high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels.
Conclusions: These observations suggest that the metabolic syndrome and/or its components may influence the different initial mechanisms of atherosclerosis--disorder of endothelial function and intima-media thickening. It is presumable that the lipid disorders as well as inflammation may play more significant role in the presence of impaired endothelial function.