The relationship between metabolic syndrome, its components, and the whole-body atherosclerotic disease burden as measured by computed tomography angiography

Objective: Quantify the whole-body atherosclerotic disease in asymptomatic subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to assess the contribution of the syndrome and its components to the atherosclerotic burden. Methods: Sixty-five subjects with and 51 without ATPIII-defined MetS underwent a 64-slice computed tomography angiography (CTA). Plaques causing >0% stenosis in coronary or extra-coronary arteries were classified as positive. Results: The prevalence of plaques in coronary, carotid and peripheral arteries as well as their severity did not differ between groups. Conversely, it was seen an almost 3-fold increased likelihood (OR = 2.70; 95% CI 1.30-5.57; P< 0.001) of atherosclerosis in any district across categories of MetS components (0-1 vs. 2-3 vs. 4-5). Hypertriglyceridemia (P< 0.05) and high blood glucose (P< 0.05) were independent predictors of the atherosclerotic burden. Conclusions: Atherosclerotic burden as revealed by 64-TCA appears to be more strongly associated with the number of MetS-related factors than to the clinical diagnosis of MetS itself. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.