Clinical Impact of Metabolic Syndrome by Modified NCEP-ATPIII Criteria on Carotid Atherosclerosis in Japanese Adults

Abstract

The present study aimed to clarify the clinical impact of modified NCEP-ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome (MS) and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) on carotid atherosclerosis in 615 Japanese adults (319 men and 296 women) including 307 with type 2 diabetes. Waist circumference was the only component from the original NCEP-ATP III criteria based on Japanese criteria. The intima-medial thickness (IMT) and stiffness parameter beta of the carotid artery were measured by ultrasound. Both IMT and stiffness parameter beta were significantly increased with the number of coexisting components of MS, and higher in subjects with MS than in those without MS (all Ps < 0.0001). In a logistic regression analysis with each component of MS as independent factors, hyperglycemia and hypertension had the highest odds ratio for progressors of IMT and stiffness parameter beta , respectively. Univariate odds ratios of MS for both IMT and stiffness parameter beta were comparable with that of an increase of 10% in 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk by FRS (CHD risk/ 10%) but inferior to CHD risk by FRS >/= 20%. The modified NCEP-ATP III criteria for MS revealed an additive predictive impact on carotid atherosclerosis but no superiority to FRS.