Metabolic Syndrome and Structural and Functional Echocardiographic Characteristics: A Case Control Study in Isfahan Cohort Study

Increased risk of cardiovascular events could be mediated by alterations in systolic and diastolic cardiac function and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) in individuals with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of the MetS on these disorders.

This case control study was conducted on a subsample of the Isfahan cohort study (ICS) participants. Based on the files of ICS participants, 520 people with and without MetS were selected by randomized stratified sampling. After baseline assessments (taking medical history and physical, ECG and lab exams) echocardiography was performed for participants.

Four handred and sixty-eight people (participation rate: 90%) took part in this study. Univariate analysis revealed that diastolic dysfunction (in both genders), and LVH in women were significantly different in both the with and without MS participants. Systolic dysfunction (in both genders) and LVH (in men) were the same. Multivariate analysis revealed that age over 65 years [OR (95% CI): 14.5(6.2-33.9)], body mass index 25 [OR (95% CI): 2.6(1.4-4.6)], hypertriglycidemia [OR(95% CI): 2.4(1.2-4.8), and being female [OR (95% CI): 14.3(5.0-50.0)] and] predicted diastolic dysfunction and LVH, respectively. None of the MS variables studied played a predictive role in systolic dysfunction.

This study did not confirm the role of MetS in structural or functional cardiac dysfunction, whereas other factors including age, being overweight or female and hypertriglicidemia could play a predictive role in these dysfunctions.