PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND ITS IMPACT ON ASYMPTOMATIC CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Abstract

The importance of metabolic syndrome (MetSy) lies in the fact that its components are proven risk factors for early blood vessel atherosclerosis and thrombosis.Aim of the paper: Our aim was to establish the prevalence of MetSy in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and its impact on asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. The study involved 391 examinees, divided into two groups. The study group consisted of patients with arterial hypertension (n=342; average age, 66.56 ± 09.52; with 51% of female gender). The presence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors was established for all involved patients, cardiovascular risk score was determined (SCORE risk), laboratory analyses were performed, as well as anthropometric measurements and color Doppler sonography of the great blood vessels of the neck. The patients with AH were divided into two groups according to the presence of MetSy. Metabolic syndrome was confirmed in 198 patients who comprised group I; there were 144 examinees without MetSy and these comprised group II. Those with MetSy had a greater average number of CV risk factors, a higher SCORE risk score, higher body mass index (p<0.0001), and more frequently had diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity. The thickness of the intimal medial complex (IMC) of the carotid arteries was significantly greater in the group with MetSy (p<0.0001) – 51% of examinees had IMC thickness ≥0.90. The patients with MetSy more commonly had one or more carotid plaques (p=0.03), a higher average number of plaques (p=0.01) and percentage of stenosis (p=0.01). As the most important factors associated with early carotid atherosclerosis, multivariant regression analysis singled out the following (for the model R=0.512. R2=0.262. adjusted R2=0.255. standard error of the estimate = 0.174; p<0.0001): age (coefficiant β=0.331. p<0.0001), number of MetSy components (coefficient β=0.158. p=0.002), level of serum uric acid (coefficient β=0.284; p<0.0001). Our results demonstrated a significant association of MetSy and its components with early atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries.