Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery intima-media thickness in military pilots

The common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus in apparently healthy men. The relationship between features of metabolic syndrome (MS) and CCAIMT is not fully understood. We conducted this study to assess the cross-sectional relationship between CCAIMT and MS parameters in military pilots during their regular annual medical physical examinations. There were 179 pilots (ages 39.69 +/- 5.56 yr) free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus included in our study. MS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. The CCAIMT was measured in the posterior wall of both common carotid arteries within 1 cm proximal to the carotid bulbus, by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. We identified MS in 51 (28.5%) and CCAIMT > or = 0.9 mm in 72.1% of subjects, and found the means of CCAIMT in subjects grouped according to the absence and presence of 3, 4, and 5 MS features to be 0.98, 1.05, 1.14, and 1.18 mm respectively, with statistically significant differences between those without and those with 4 and 5 components, as well as between those with MS and those with 5 MS features. A simple logistic regression analyses showed that HDL-c, triglycerides, triglycerides/HDL-c, pulse pressure, and smoking were not associated with CCAIMT > or = 0.9 mm, while multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that total cholesterol and body mass index were independent predictors of CCAIMT. The increase in MS features in our study group correlated with the increase in CCAIMT and total cholesterol and body mass index were identified as the independent predictors of CCAIMT.