Major risk factors for atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome: The UHS

Corresponding Author:

Roever L
Department of Clinical Research
Federal University of Uberlândia, Araguari, Brazil
Tel: +553488039878
E-mail: leonardoroever@hotmail.com

Submitted: August 18, 2017; Accepted: September 18, 2017; Published online: September 22, 2017

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. We assessed the factors of greater association with atherosclerosis and diagnosis of MetS in the urban population of volunteers and non-athletes. The objective was to determine the risk factors for atherosclerosis and MetS in the urban adult population of Uberlândia. Methods: A study with a sample of 101 volunteers (50.49% men; mean age 56.5±18, range 19-74 years) drawn from the Uberlândia Heart Study (UHS). The volunteers were examined in relation to physical examination and laboratory tests. Results: The study sample was 48 women (W) and 52 man (M) years, and 48.5% were W, 40.2% was elevated blood pressure [BP (systolic BP ≥130 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥85 mmHg)], 39.3% of patients were obese, 61.8% had abdominal obesity, 32% of hypertriglyceridemia, 33.2% of low HDL-C and LDL-C, 40.2% of high total cholesterol, 33.2% high non-HDL-C, 22.7% had mixed dyslipidemia, 20.2% had impaired fasting glucose and 41.1% had metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The UHS study reported a high prevalence of MetS and risk factors in both sexes.

Keywords

Prevalence, Risk factors, Abdominal obesity, Lipids, Metabolic syndrome

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) arising from atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide, and the underlying pathogenesis involves an imbalanced lipid metabolism and a maladaptive immune response entailing a chronic inflammation of the arterial wall1. Metabolic syndrome is defined by a constellation of interconnected physiological, biochemical, clinical, and metabolic factors that directly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and all-cause mortality [1,2]. In particular, the visceral fat (VF) compartment may be a pathogenic fat depot. MetS is related to any comorbidities including, impaired fasting glucose, diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, lipids disorders, inflammation and cancer [3,4]. In the NHANES study one-fifth of the adult population of the USA has high cardio metabolic risk, with the prevalence of MetS being estimated at 22.9% [2-5].

A gap in the South American literature is related to what type of comorbidities related to MetS is in adults in both sexes. The aim of this study was to verify the diversity of risk factors for atherosclerosis and MetS in UHS.

Materials and Methods

Study sample

The study was approved by the institutional review boards of the Federal University of Uberlândia. All subjects provided written informed consent. A study with 101 volunteers of randomly selected adult urban population and not athlete (50.49% men; mean age 56.5±18, range 19-74 years) drawn from the Uberlândia Heart Study underwent physical assessment, laboratory tests, and also did not make the use of tobacco and drugs that could influence blood pressure (BP), lipid profile and blood glucose.

Risk factor and covariate assessment

The Risk factors (RF) and covariates were measured at the first visit. BMI, defined as weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in meters), was measured at each index examination. MetS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III. Individuals were classified as having MetS if they had three or more of the followings from UHS Visit 1: elevated BP (systolic BP ≥130 mmHg or diastolic BP 8≥5 mmHg); elevated TG (≥150 mg/dL); low HDL-C (men <40 mg/dL, women <50 mg/dL); impaired fasting glucose (>100 mg/dL); and elevated waist circumference (WC) (men ≥94 cm, women ≥80 cm).Diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126 mg/dL. Impaired fasting glucose was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level of 100 to 125 mg/dL among those not treated for diabetes. Total cholesterol, HDL-C, TG and glucose were determined by enzymatic methods after overnight fasting. Certified technicians used a random-zero sphygmomanometer to measure 2 blood pressure (BP) readings in the sitting position after 5 minutes of rest and the mean BP of the 2 measurements was recorded. Liver enzymes γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT-normal values 9 to 36 U/L (W) and 12-64 U/L (M)], Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT-normal up to 55 U /L), and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST-normal up to 34 U/L) were determined.

Statistical analysis

The RF was normally distributed. Sex-specific age-adjusted Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess simple correlations between RF and MetS. Multivariable linear and logistic regression was used to assess the significance of covariate-adjusted cross-sectional relations between continuous and dichotomous RF and MetS. A p-value, 0.05 was considered to indicate significance. SPSS Version 21 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used.

Results

The sample population was composed of 101 volunteers.

Participant characteristics

The mean age of the study sample was 48 W and 52 M, and 48.5% were women. In Table 1 was reported the description of the health variables and the distribution by age groups.

Table 1: Study Sample Characteristics.

Prevalence of major CVD risk factors

The overall prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 40.2% (systolic BP ≥130 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥85 mmHg), 39.3% had obese, 61.8 % abdominal obesity, 32 % hypertriglyceridemia, 33.2% low HDL-C and high LDL-C, 40.2 % high total cholesterol, 33.2% high non-HDL-C, 22.7 % mixed dyslipidemia, 20.2% impaired fasting glucose and 41.1% had MetS (Figures 1-3).

Figure 1: Prevalence (%) of risk factors.

Figure 2: Prevalence (%) in women.

Figure 3: Prevalence (%) in men.

Discussion

In the UHS, 40.2% was hypertensive, 39,3% had obese, 61.8 % abdominal obesity, 32 % hypertriglyceridemia, 33.2% low HDL-C and high LDL-C, 40.2 % high total cholesterol, 33.2% high non-HDL-C, 22.7% mixed dyslipidemia, 20.2% impaired fasting glucose and 41.1% had MetS. The LATINMETS Brazil study reported the MetS prevalence of 4.5% in health care workers6, and The LATINMETS Columbia study identified an MS prevalence of 17.5% [6,7].

In study of latinos: obesity was rates were highest among Puerto Rican participants (for men, 40.9% and 34.7%; for women); hypercholesterolemia prevalence was highest among Central American men (54.9%) and Puerto Rican women (41.0%). Hypertension was directly associated with CVD in both sexes as were hypercholesterolemia and obesity in women and diabetes in men). In stroke the associations were positive with hypertension in both sexes, diabetes in men, and smoking in women [7].

The (CARMELA) study verified a greater prevalence of obesity and diabetes compared with South America [8]. In INTERHEART Study, was observed one strong association of CVD with coronary syndromes [9,10].

In the rural community, hypertension was present in 66.4%, diabetes in 4.8%, abdominal obesity in 38.46%, low HDL-C, occurred in 30%, high levels of TC in 4.5%, LDL-C in 1.1%, and TG in 12.5% (33). An observational study of 103 subjects (91 females and 12 males) was performed on residents of Nuevo Jerusalen, Peru. The prevalence of obesity was 30%, elevated blood pressure was 13.3%, elevated blood glucose levels was 17.9% [11-14].

Lee et al. described the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the normal weight and overweight participants was 8.3% and 29.9% respectively. MONO prevalence was higher among males, Indians, and older participants and inversely associated with sleep duration [15]. One possible explanation may be because obesity was the most common metabolic risk factor found among participants and ectopic obesity, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and hypertension which would increase the risk of developing MetS [16]. In a study from Korea the authors relates to MetS with specific gender associations and with lower socioeconomic status and psychological factors [17].

Suliga et al. evaluate the risk and frequency of occurrence of metabolic syndrome and each of its components among 3,172 individuals aged 37-66 with normal weight. MetS was diagnosed in 17.27% of individuals with normal weight. An increase in the risk of occurrence of MetS in females was observed within the second (OR=2.22) and the third (OR=3.97; 95% CI: 2.97-5.36) tertiles of normal BMI values. In males, a significantly higher risk of occurrence of MetS was noted only in the highest BMI tertile (OR=2.16) [18].

In a study in the rural areas of China, the authors examined 5919 hypertensive adults (2892 men and 3027 women) aged 35 years or older. Hypertensive adults with the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype had significantly higher prevalence’s of all cardiometabolic risk factors than those without the HTGW phenotype. This study concluded that the HTGW phenotype was positively associated with metabolic abnormalities in hypertensive adults [19].

Voevoda et al. relates the prevalence of METS, abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, HDL hypocholestrolemia, LDL hypercholesterolemia, and high plasma glucose level was 17% (19.9% in men and 14.5% in women), 42.6, 33.5, 17.5, 24.3, 64.8, and 29% respectively [20].

In Korean adolescents, approximately 50.1% and 33.1% of adolescents had at least one MetS diagnostic component according to the respective criteria [21]. Maiello et al. screened 1257 postmenopausal women. MetS was assessed on 834 women (66.4%). Prevalence of each component was: hypertension (91.9%), central obesity 90.9%), low HDL-C (73.3%), high triglyceride levels (51.3%), glucose levels higher than 110 mg/dl or diabetes (48.5%) [22].

Huang and colleagues investigate the prevalence of MetS in 259 professional automobile drivers. The bus drivers and taxi drivers had significantly higher prevalence rates of MS than the nonoperating staff (17.5%/13.1% vs 3.3%). Professional automobile drivers have a higher prevalence rate of MS than non-operating staff [23]. In a study in Nigerian, systemic hypertension was found in 78.45%, abdominal adiposity was in 38.79% subjects and 37.93% had Type 2 diabetes mellitus [24]. In elderly Japanese-Brazilians the MetS prevalence ranged from 59.9% to 65.8% according to the different definitions. The prevalence of altered MetS components was as follows: arterial blood pressure 82%, fasting glycaemia 65.8%, triglycerides 43.4%, and HDL-C levels 36.9% [25].

The MetS and risk factors for atherosclerosis may be associated with an increase in the accumulation of visceral and perirenal fat deposits in this population [26-28]. The high prevalence of MetS and risk factors for atherosclerosis may be associated with an increase in the accumulation of visceral and perirenal fat deposits in this population [26-28]. In a recent study in Ecuador, the prevalence of MetS was 66.0% in women and 47.1% in men. The MetS is high among older adults. Abdominal obesity followed by elevated blood pressure was the metabolic syndrome components more prevalent and associated with insulin resistance among older Ecuadorians [29].

Strengths and Limitations

There were obtained reliable data related to alcohol consumption and diet. Future studies should be conducted among populations of different occupations with a more representative ethnic and gender distribution at the national level, and longitudinal studies should also be conducted to establish the causal relationship between the metabolic syndrome and its risk factors.

Conclusion

The UHS study reported a high prevalence of MetS and risk factors in both sexes.

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