OBJECTIVES: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with structural and functional vascular abnormalities. MetS and its components may increase arterial stiffness and the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the relationship of MetS and its components, including obesity, with arterial stiffness is still not fully understood. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a group of 116 patients undergoing treatment for hypertension, we searched for the relationships between parameters of MetS and aortic stiffness expressed by pulse wave velocity (PWVAo). PWVAo was measured using an arteriograph working on the oscillometric principle, and pulse wave analysis (PWA) for noninvasive assessment of the parameters of central hemodynamics. RESULTS: From the cluster of parameters of MetS we found a signifi cant association between body mass index (BMI) and aortic stiffness, and between fasting plasma glucose/type 2 diabetes (FPG/T2DM) and aortic stiffness. We did not fi nd signifi cant relationships between other components of MetS (HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) and aortic stiffness, based on the infl uence of hypolipidemic therapy. Arterial stiffness increased with age and was higher in females. CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness was associated with age, sex, and MetS components (BMI and FPG/T2DM). Surprisingly, the parameters of dyslipidemia do not infl uence stiffness parameters, which can be explained by hypolipidemic therapy. The infl uence of hypolipidemic therapy should therefore be borne in mind when evaluating arterial tree function (Tab. 7, Ref. 62).