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(Circulation. 2004;110:1245-1250.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Articles |
From the Heart Disease Prevention Program, University of California, Irvine (S.M., N.D.W., S.S.F., J.R.P.), and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, NJ (T.V.K., G.J.L., G.R.W.).
Reprint requests to Nathan D. Wong, PhD, MPH, Heart Disease Prevention Program, Department of Medicine, C240 Medical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697. E-mail ndwong{at}uci.edu
Received February 8, 2004; de novo received April 2, 2004; revision received May 24, 2004; accepted May 27, 2004.
| Abstract |
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Methods and Results In a prospective cohort study, 6255 subjects 30 to 75 years of age (54% female) (representative of 64 million adults in the United States) from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were followed for a mean±SD of 13.3±3.8 years. MetS was defined by modified National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. From sample-weighted multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression, compared with those with neither MetS nor prior CVD, age-, gender-, and risk factoradjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CHD mortality were 2.02 (95% CI, 1.42 to 2.89) for those with MetS and 4.19 (95% CI, 3.04 to 5.79) for those with pre-existing CVD. For CVD mortality, HRs were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.40 to 2.37) and 3.14 (95% CI, 2.49 to 3.96), respectively; for overall mortality, HRs were 1.40 (95% CI, 1.19 to 1.66) and 1.87 (95% CI, 1.60 to 2.17), respectively. In persons with MetS but without diabetes, risks of CHD and CVD mortality remained elevated. Diabetes predicted all mortality end points. Those with even 1 to 2 MetS risk factors were at increased risk for mortality from CHD and CVD. Moreover, MetS more strongly predicts CHD, CVD, and total mortality than its individual components.
Conclusions CHD, CVD, and total mortality are significantly higher in US adults with than in those without MetS.
Key Words: diabetes mellitus risk factors metabolic syndrome X mortality
| Introduction |
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The prevalence of MetS has been reported to be 24% in the US adult population.8 Most studies have examined how MetS affects mortality in non-US populations.911 Using both the WHO and NCEP definitions, Lakka et al12 showed in middle-aged men in Finland approximate greater risks for CHD death, CVD death, and total mortality for those with MetS. Isomaa et al13 used the WHO definition to show higher CVD and overall mortality in adults with MetS in Finland and Sweden.
We examined the impact of MetS in a large sample of adults representative of the US population on CHD, CVD, and overall mortality, as well as how these risks compare to those with diabetes or prior CVD.
| Methods |
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Approximately 23% (n=2145) of the cohort was deceased as of December 31, 1992. Death certificates were available for 98% of the decedents (n=2104) and missing for 41 decedents who were included in the total mortality analysis and censored in the CVD and CHD analyses. Two subjects had incomplete identifying data and were excluded. Because of missing triglycerides, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and/or glucose, the absence of MetS could not be confirmed for 2995 participants, leaving 6255 subjects for analysis. In these subjects, the presence of
3 MetS risk factors, diabetes, prior CVD, or normal levels of
3 MetS risk factors (confirming the absence of MetS) was confirmed to classify individuals. Subjects not included compared with those included in the analysis were younger (48.4 versus 49.7 years of age), were more likely to be male (50.6% versus 45.6%), had lower body mass index (BMI; 25 versus 26 kg/m2), had higher blood pressure (132/84 mm Hg versus 128/81 mm Hg), and were more likely to smoke (38.9% versus 33.9%) (all P<0.0001).
Serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured with a Technicon Auto-Analyzer II, which uses a Lieberman-Burchard reagent for cholesterol and a fluorimetric measurement of triglycerides.15 HDL-C was determined by the ß quantification method, which uses ultracentrifugation and heparin-manganese precipitation. The mean of 2 sitting blood pressure readings was used. Physical activity was assessed by self-reported recreation exercise and dichotomized into much or moderate exercise versus little or no exercise.
MetS was defined by modified NCEP criteria if
3 of the following were present: (1) BMI
30 kg/m2, (2) HDL-C <1.04 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) if male or <1.29 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) if female, (3) triglycerides
1.69 mmol/L (150 mg/dL) if fasting or
4.52 mmol/L (400 mg/dL) if not fasting, (4) blood pressure
130/85 mm Hg or use of antihypertension medication, or (5) glucose
6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dL) if fasting or 2-hour postload glucose
7.77 mmol/L (140 mg/dL). Of the 6255 included subjects, 73 did not have fasting triglycerides, so a value of
4.52 mmol/L (400 mg/dL) was accepted as abnormal. Diabetes was defined by a physician informing the subject of having diabetes, a fasting glucose
6.99 mmol/L (126 mg/dL), 2-hour postload glucose
11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL), or use of dietary treatment. Diabetes was included within those defined with MetS and as a separate category in which we examined mortality risk in those with MetS who did not have diabetes. Also, we examined those with 1 and 2 combined and 3 to 5 combined MetS risk factors (defining MetS), with and without diabetes, as separate groups using an "optimal" risk reference group consisting of no MetS risk factors. Pre-existing CVD was defined if participants self-reported that a physician had diagnosed them with CHD, heart failure, other cardiac disease, or stroke. We also examined the relation of individual MetS risk factors compared with MetS as a syndrome to mortality.
Statistical Analyses
The
2 test of proportions or ANOVA was used to compare the prevalence or mean levels of the individual MetS components and other baseline characteristics across clinical conditions. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression, adjusted for age, gender, total cholesterol, physical activity, and cigarette smoking (risk factors not comprising the definition for MetS), examined the risk for CHD, CVD, and overall mortality in those with MetS or CVD compared with those free of these conditions (reference group). To examine for gender differences, interaction terms of the disease group and gender were used, as were analyses stratified by gender. Age- and gender-adjusted rates for each mortality end point were also determined for each clinical condition.
We also examined risks in those defined with MetS (but without diabetes) and diabetes in a separate Cox regression model to determine whether the observed findings with MetS were dependent on diabetes being included in the definition. Also, we evaluated risks compared with an optimal risk group (no MetS risk factors) for those with 1 to 2 combined and 3 to 5 combined MetS risk factors, in addition to those groups defined above.
To compare the impact of MetS (including those with diabetes) on each mortality end point compared with the impact of individual MetS risk factors, we also conducted multivariable Cox regression with each mortality outcome in 2 separate models: MetS or its individual components. Those with pre-existing CVD were excluded to prevent confounding with the individual component risk factors.
Statistical procedures were done with SAS version 8.1 (SAS Institute), and procedures using sample weights for projection to the US population distribution used SUDAAN version 8.02 (Research Triangle Institute).
| Results |
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After adjustment for age, gender, smoking status, physical activity, and total serum cholesterol levels and weighting to the US population by use of the NHANES II sample weights, MetS was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of CHD mortality of 2.02 (95% CI, 1.42 to 2.89). Individuals with baseline CVD had a higher risk (HR, 4.19; 95% CI, 3.04 to 5.79). When CVD mortality was the outcome, HRs were increased in a similar pattern as for CHD mortality. MetS was also associated with an increase in overall mortality (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.66). Pre-existing CVD led to an even higher risk (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.60 to 2.17) (Table 3).
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Those with MetS but without diabetes had an HR of CHD mortality of 1.65 (95% CI, 1.10 to 2.47), those with diabetes had an HR of 2.87 (95% CI, 1.84 to 4.47), those with baseline CVD but no diabetes had an HR of 3.89 (95% CI, 2.79 to 5.43), and those with combined diabetes and CVD had the highest risk (HR, 6.45; 95% CI, 4.24 to 9.79) (Table 3, indented categories). Similar trends for increased risks of CVD mortality also were seen. For total mortality, increased risks were seen for those with diabetes and in those with pre-existing CVD, with the highest risk among those with both diabetes and CVD (Table 3).
When those with no MetS risk factors were used as the reference group, HRs for CHD mortality were 2.10 (95% CI, 1.05 to 4.19) for those with 1 to 2 MetS risk factors and 3.51 (95% CI, 1.81 to 6.81) for those with MetS (including those with diabetes) (Table 4). Among those with MetS but without diabetes (3 to 5 MetS risk factors), the HR was 2.87 (95% CI, 1.44 to 5.73), and for those with diabetes, the HR was 5.02 (95% CI, 2.47 to 10.23) (Table 4, indented categories). Risks were greatest for those with pre-existing CVD alone and for those with combined diabetes and CVD. For CVD mortality, similar increases in risk across disease and risk factor categories were noted (all P<0.0001 to P=0.01). Although those with 1 to 2 risk factors did not have an increased risk of total mortality, those with MetS (including diabetes) did (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.87). Those with MetS but without diabetes had no statistically significant risk of overall mortality, whereas those with diabetes and/or CVD had significant 2- to 3-fold increases in risk (Table 4).
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We found no significant differences in mortality prediction between men and women (P=0.56, 0.35, and 0.83 for interactions of MetS with gender for CHD, CVD, and total mortality, respectively). In analyses stratified by gender, women and men had similar HRs for CHD, CVD, and total mortality. MetS carried a 2-fold risk of CHD mortality in women (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.81), whereas men had only a slightly lower risk (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.22 to 3.05). Women with MetS had a similar risk of CVD death (HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.36 to 2.99), whereas men with MetS had a slightly lower risk (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.43). Overall mortality associated with MetS was similar between men (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.76) and women (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.81).
In multivariable models examining MetS risk factors in predicting mortality, only single components predicted risk: low HDL-C resulted in a greater risk only for CHD mortality (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.31 to 2.82); hypertension resulted in an increased risk (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.20 to 2.43) only for CVD mortality; and impaired fasting or impaired 2-hour glucose resulted in a higher risk only for overall mortality (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.62). These risks can be compared with slightly greater risks seen for MetS (including diabetes) for CHD, CVD, and total mortality (HR, 1.98, 1.87, and 1.44, respectively; all P
0.0001).
| Discussion |
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Our findings suggest the need for intensified treatment recommendations in persons with MetS and even in those with only 1 or 2 MetS risk factors. Intensive treatment of diabetics involving control of blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids can result in reducing macrovascular and microvascular complications by
50%.17 In persons with MetS, up to 80% of CHD events may be preventable from optimal control of LDL-C, HDL-C, and blood pressure.16
Previous studies have not examined mortality risks in persons with MetS after separating out those with diabetes or those with known CVD.12,13,18 In those with MetS, >40% are at intermediate risk (10% to 20% 10-year risk) of CHD;
20% of men are at higher risk.16 Moreover,
40% of persons with MetS either are at high risk or have significant coronary calcium (
75th percentile for age and sex); in these individuals, more aggressive risk factor management may be warranted.19
Strengths of our study include its prospective design, reliable assessment of causes of death, generalizability from the use of a sample representative of the US population, and assessment of the impact of MetS alone relative to diabetes and pre-existing CVD on mortality end points. Our study excluded 2995 participants because of missing risk factor information on glucose and lipids. From a sensitivity analyses including these subjects, our main effects remained significant and in the same direction, despite some reduction in our HRs, probably as a result of some misclassification in the no-disease category. We classified all included subjects in our main analyses by confirming that those included in the reference group were negative for
3 MetS risk factors and that those with MetS were confirmed to have
3 MetS risk factors.
Because waist circumference measures were not available, we used BMI to classify individuals with obesity. Recent studies have used BMI successfully to classify those with MetS because MetS and diabetes are strongly correlated.20 Using NHANES III, 97% of those identified as having MetS from BMI would have been identified if waist circumference cut points had been substituted.19 Despite the difference in definitions used, we note a prevalence of MetS in our study population (26%) that is similar to published estimates.8,21 From NHANES III, the odds for CVD from definitions using waist circumference compared with BMI are nearly identical, suggesting that risk prediction is comparable using either definition. Moreover, Sattar et al22 defined MetS by incorporating BMI cut points and reported a similar increased risk of CHD.
Including those with a 2-hour postload glucose of 140 to 199 mg/dL in our MetS definition resulted in more individuals being classified with insulin resistance than when fasting glucose alone was used. We found that 68% of these subjects would not have met the criterion of 110 to 125 mg/dL for impaired fasting glucose. Others also show the oral glucose tolerance test to be a more sensitive method.23,24 But because other factors are involved in the definition of MetS, only 8.3% of our subjects with MetS would not have been identified if the oral glucose tolerance test was not included. Our results relating MetS to each mortality end point remained robust when we ran our analyses without the oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, among the 520 subjects with diabetes only, 29 (5.6%) were identified solely on the basis of dietary treatment; however, our HRs in relation to the mortality end points remained nearly identical when we included only those defined by physician report and/or required glucose cut points.
In US adults 30 to 74 years of age, MetS confers an increased risk of CHD, CVD, and total mortality, and persons with diabetes and/or pre-existing CVD are at even higher risk. Even 1 or 2 MetS risk factors confer increased risks of CHD and CVD mortality. MetS is a serious clinical condition associated with a worse prognosis than its individual risk factors. Further investigation is needed to address which treatment strategies are most appropriate given an individuals risk profile.
| Acknowledgments |
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Dr Wong has received grant support from Bristol-Meyers Squibb.
This work was supported in part by a research grant from the Bristol Myers-Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute.
| Footnotes |
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