Cardiovascular Diabetology (Jan 2008)

Metabolic syndrome is not associated with reduction in aortic distensibility in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

  • Kostakis Maria,
  • Perrea Despoina,
  • Liatis Stavros,
  • Moyssakis Ioannis,
  • Papazafiropoulou Athanasia,
  • Tentolouris Nicholas,
  • Katsilambros Nicholas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2840-7-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 1

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background Aortic distensibility (AD) is a marker of the elastic properties of the aorta. Reduction of AD occurs early in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and it is associated with subclinical generalized atherosclerosis. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in subjects with T2DM and predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study examined the potential relationship between MetS and AD in a cohort of subjects with T2DM. Methods and results A total of 210 subjects with T2DM were studied. MetS was diagnosed using the NCEP/ATP-III criteria. AD was assessed non-invasively by ultrasonography. The prevalence of MetS was 64.8%. AD was not significantly different between subjects with and without MetS (1.80 ± 0.54 vs. 1.84 ± 0.53 10-6 dyn-1 cm2, p = 0.55). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that AD was associated positively with male sex (p = 0.02) as well as glomerular filtration rate (p Conclusion In subjects with T2DM, MetS status per se is not associated with reduction of AD. In addition, it was shown that besides ageing, duration of glycemia was a strong predictor of AD. From the components of the MetS only hypertension was associated with reduction of the elastic properties of the aorta.