Aim: Arterial stiffness (AS) is a risk marker of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, yet its association with metabolic syndrome (MS) in diabetic patients is not established. The aim of this study was to investigate possible association of MS or its components with AS in diabetic population and to identify the MS definition which better correlates with AS.
Methods: Overall, 98 type-2 diabetic men, mean age 64+/-10 years, were classified into groups according to the presence of MS, using the National Cholesterol Educational Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. AS was estimated using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). For between-group comparisons and correlations between MS and it's components with AS, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were employed, respectively. For multivariable analysis a linear regression model was used.
Results: PWV in those with (72.5%) and without NCEP-ATPIII MS was 13.4+/-2.9 vs 12+/-3.2 m/s (P=NS) and in those with (79.6%) and without IDF MS 13.6+/-2.8 vs 11+/-3.2 m/s (P=0.036). AS positively correlated with IDF MS (r=0.332, P=0.036), increased blood pressure (r=0.324, P=0.037), and the combination of increased waist circumference according to IDF with hypertension (r=0.380, P=0.013); no correlation with NCEP-ATPIII MS was detected. In multivariable analysis, age, hypertension, and IDF MS were independently associated with AS (beta=2.52, P=0.039).
Conclusions: IDF MS is independently associated with increased AS in diabetic men. Additionally, abdominal obesity, hypertension and older age were likely to be associated with increased AS. PWV measurement may be indicated in such patients.