The association between metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis

To explore the association between metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was detected and the atherosclerotic plaque was classified, graded, and scored in 358 retired males, aged 55 approximately 74, including 95 (26.6%) with metabolic syndrome (metabolic syndrome group) and 263 (73.5%) without metabolic syndrome (non-metabolic syndrome group). The correlation of IMT with every characteristic of metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria was studied. The metabolic syndrome group had higher carotid IMT (0.90 mm +/- 0.12 mm versus 0.84 mm +/- 0.11 mm, P < 0.05), plaque score (3.58 mm +/- 0.44 mm vs 2.45 mm +/- 0.25 mm, P < 0.05), plaque occurrence rate (64.2% vs 47.5%, P < 0.05) and cardiovascular event morbidity (20.0% versus 12.2%, P < 0.05) compared with the non-metabolic syndrome group. IMT was significantly but weakly positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, and waistline (r = 0.27, r = 0.17, r = 0.17 and r = 0.12 respectively