Open AccessAssociation of metabolic syndrome with carotid thickening and plaque in the general population: A meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Cuspidi Cesare,
Sala Carla,
Tadic Marijana,
Gherbesi Elisa,
Grassi Guido,
Mancia Giuseppe
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/jch.13138
Subject(s) - medicine , meta analysis , metabolic syndrome , cardiology , population , intima media thickness , medline , carotid arteries , obesity , environmental health , political science , law
We performed a meta‐analysis of population studies reporting data on carotid intima‐media thickness and plaque in patients with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) to provide a new piece of information on the relationship of MetS with both phenotypes of vascular damage. The Ovid MEDLINE , PubMed, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched without time restriction up to December 31, 2016. Overall, 19 696 patients (22.2% with MetS) were included in eight studies. Common carotid intima‐media thickness was greater in patients with MetS compared with those without it (788 ± 47 μm vs 727 ± 44 μm), with a standard means difference of 0.28 ± 0.06 ( P = .00003). Increased intima‐media thickness in patients with MetS was paralleled by a higher prevalence of plaques. The present meta‐analysis shows that MetS is associated with both ultrasonographic phenotypes of carotid damage. This finding is consistent with the view of MetS as a cluster of hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic factors promoting vascular hypertrophy and plaque.