Abstract

BACKGROUND
The clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is known as metabolic syndrome. In this study, the association between the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV), a novel non-invasive means of measuring atherosclerosis, and the cardiovascular risk factors of the metabolic syndrome were investigated. METHODS: The study group comprised 460 non-diabetic Koreans, male:female ratio 158:302, with a mean age of 52.4+/-11.3 years. The anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose(FBG), lipid profiles, ankle-brachial pressure index(ABI) and baPWV were measured in each subject. RESULTS: The ABI and baPWV levels were significantly higher in the men than the women. In both the men and women, the baPWV was closely associated with the cardiovascular risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Those who had more metabolic syndrome components showed higher baPWV levels. Women with metabolic syndrome showed higher baPWV levels compared to those without (1517+/-281 vs. 1336+/-250, P<0.001). A multiple regression analysis showed the baPWV to be significantly associated with systolic blood pressure, age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and FBG (adjusted R-square 0.554). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the baPWV was significantly associated with the features of metabolic syndrome, including the FBG, in non-diabetic Koreans.

• Keywords: Type 2 diabetes;Metabolic syndrome;Pulse wave velocity;Ankle brachial pressure