The association of metabolic syndrome and Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus type 1 a population-based study

Background: The metabolic syndrome together with insulin resistance and their consequences are basic factors in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Chronic infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The infectious aspects of metabolic syndrome have not been investigated. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we used National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATP)-III criteria in 1791 subjects, aged 25 years and over, selected by cluster random sampling in three Iranian ports in the northern Persian Gulf. Serum was analyzed for IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae, HSV-1, H. pylori and CMV using ELISA. Results: An estimated 54.6% of males and 44.9% of females were identified as fulfilling NCEP-ATP III criteria for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. In multiple logistic regression analysis, metabolic syndrome was found to have a significant association with HSV-1 (OR=2.01 p=0.003), H. pylori (OR=1.47 p=0.004), C. pneumoniae (OR=1.69 p