Roles of the metabolic syndrome, HDL cholesterol, and coronary atherosclerosis in subclinical inflammation
- Philipp Rein, MD1,2,3,
- Christoph H. Saely, MD1,2,3,
- Stefan Beer, MD1,2,3,
- Alexander Vonbank, MD1,2,3 and
- Heinz Drexel, MD (vivit{at}lkhf.at)1,2,3,4
- 1 Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria
- 2 Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Academic Teaching Hospital Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Austria
- 3 Private University of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Triesen, Liechtenstein
- 4 Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Abstract
Objective: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coincide; their individual contribution to inflammation is unknown.
Research Design and Methods: We enrolled 1010 patients undergoing coronary angiography; coronary stenoses ≥50% were considered significant; the MetS was defined according to AHA revised NCEP-ATP-III criteria.
Results: CRP did not differ between patients with significant CAD and subjects without significant CAD (p=0.706), but was significantly higher in MetS patients than in those without MetS (p<0.001). The MetS criteria low HDL-C (p<0.001), large waist (p<0.001), high glucose (p<0.001) and high blood pressure (p=0.016) but not the high triglycerides (p=0.352) proved associated with CRP. When all MetS traits were considered simultaneously, only low HDL-C proved independently associated with CRP (F=44.19; p<0.001).
Conclusions: CRP is strongly associated with the MetS but not with coronary atherosclerosis. The association of the MetS with subclinical inflammation is driven by the low HDL-C feature.
Footnotes
- Received December 30, 2009.
- Accepted May 5, 2010.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
