We assessed the cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in 116 stable liver transplant patients surviving for 5 years or more (median: 102 months). The prevalence of smokers was 29.3%, hypertension 49.1%, obesity 22.4%, hypercholesterolemia 34.5%, hypertriglyceridemia 11.2%, and hyperhomocysteinemia 57.8%. Diabetes was found in 21.5% of the patients, being more frequent in patients with hepatitis-C-virus infection (31.8% vs 15.3%; P=0.03). Patients on cyclosporine therapy had a higher prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperhomocysteinemia than those treated with tacrolimus. Multivariate analysis showed only an association between cyclosporine therapy and cholesterol concentrations (odds ratio:1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.03; P=0.01). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was lower at the time of the study than at 1 and 3 years after transplantation ( P<0.05), probably related to steroid withdrawal. Comparing 87 patients' CVRFs with the general Spanish population, we found that the age-gender standardized prevalence ratio was not different: smoking 1.46 (95% CI: 0.88-1.76), obesity 1.16 (95% CI: 0.60-1.44), hypertension 1.55 (95% CI: 0.98-1.81), and hypercholesterolemia 0.64 (95%CI: 0.35-1.90). We conclude that the prevalence of CVRFs in liver transplant patients after 5 years or more is lower that found in the first years after the transplantation, and no different from that found within the Spanish population.

We assessed the cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in 116 stable liver transplant patients surviving for 5 years or more (median: 102 months). The prevalence of smokers was 29.3%, hypertension 49.1 O h , obesity 22.4%. hypercholesterolemia 34.5%, hypertriglyceridemia 11.2%, and hyperhomocysteinemia 57.8%. Diabetes was found in 21.5% of the patients, being more frequent in patients with hepatitis-C-virus infection (31.8% vs 15.3%; P=0.03). Patients on cyclosporine therapy had a higher prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperhomocysteinemia than those treated with tacrolimus. Multivariate analysis showed only an association between cyclosporine therapy and cholesterol concentrations (odds ratio: 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1 .OO-1.03; P = 0.01). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was lower at the time of the study than at 1 and 3 years after transplantation (P < 0.05), probably related to steroid withdrawal. Comparing 87 patients' CVRFs with the general Spanish population, we found that the agegender standardized prevalence ratio was not different: smoking 1.46 (95% CI: 0.88-1.76), obesity 1.16 (95% CT: 0.60-1.44), hypertension 1.55 (95% CI: 0.98-1.81), and hypercholesterolemia 0.64 (95%CI: 0.35-1.90). We conclude that the prevalence of CVRFs in liver transplant patients after 5 years or more is lower that found in the first years after the transplantation, and no different from that found within the Spanish population.

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