Effects of Metabolic Syndrome on Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by multiple risk factors and is associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The rapid change in the lifestyle and food habits of Chinese people has resulted in metabolic syndrome becoming one of the most widespread health challenges in China. Recently, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was developed as a new parameter reflecting arterial stiffness and providing an index of vascular status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome on CAVI. A total of 222 Chinese subjects aged 50-92 years participated in this study. We measured CAVI and examined blood samples to define metabolic syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. CAVI in the subjects with abnormal waist circumference was significantly higher than that obtained in the normal subjects (P < 0.01). In the abnormal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) group, CAVI was significantly increased (P < 0.01) compared to the normal HDL-C group. CAVI showed a positive correlation with waist circumference and increased significantly with the number of metabolic syndrome components. In conclusion, subjects with metabolic syndrome have a high CAVI that indicated arterial stiffness and is closely associated with an increase in the number of metabolic syndrome risk factors. Elevated abdominal obesity and low HDL-C are the main players affecting arterial stiffness in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese. These findings suggest that interaction of the individual components of metabolic syndrome plays a role in the relationship between metabolic syndrome and arterial stiffness.

Association of cardio-ankle vascular index with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular events in metabolic syndrome patients

“…In our MS subjects, higher CAVI values were significantly associated with increased fasting and OGTT glucose levels, but we did not demonstrate an association between CAVI and insulin resistance and sensitivity indices, thus suggesting that glycaemia per se has the greatest impact on the arterial wall. We did not observe a significant relationship between higher CAVI scores and elevated waist circumference, which, at first glance, contradicts some findings from previous studies [22,23]. Liu et al reported that CAVI was significantly higher in subjects with abnormal waist circumference compared to normal subjects (P < 0.01) [23].…”

“…We did not observe a significant relationship between higher CAVI scores and elevated waist circumference, which, at first glance, contradicts some findings from previous studies [22,23]. Liu et al reported that CAVI was significantly higher in subjects with abnormal waist circumference compared to normal subjects (P < 0.01) [23]. It has been reported that reducing weight is important for improving CAVI [35,36], and even short-term weight reduction may reliably decrease CAVI values (P = 0.015) [22].…”

“…Moreover, Takaki noted that CAVI is related to the total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio and to the LDL-C level [30]. Another study has investigated patients with abnormal HDL-C level, which was associated with significantly higher CAVI (P < 0.01) [23]. In addition, Satoh et al showed the correlation between elevated CAVI and abnormal TG and HDL-C, especially in men [22].…”

“…Liu et al [23] demonstrated that CAVI increased with the number of MS components. However, there have been no large population-based studies on the association of various CV risk factors and CAVI in MS patients, and, to our best knowledge, there is no follow-up study reporting the association of CAVI and CV outcome in MS patients.…”

Obesity in China: What are the Causes?

“…Atherosclerosis cases are increasing as influenced by a Westernized lifestyle [141][142][143]. Finally, in middle-aged and elderly Chinese living in northeast China, there was a higher incidence of MetS and cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis [144].…”