Metabolic Syndrome as a Predictor of Coronary Artery Calcification in Asymptomatic Korean Adults

Jung, Won Ju; Sung, Eunju

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Identification of individuals at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) is a challenge, though essential, for the prevention of future events. Thus, early detection of CHD has been a priority in research and practice. We conducted a study to evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components with coronary artery calcium (CAC) as a surrogate of CHD in a large Korean adult population.
METHODS
The study subjects (n=14,429) were individuals who visited a health promotion center in Seoul, Korea from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2010. Personal and family medical histories were collected and smoking status, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests were measured. CAC scores were measured by the multi-detector computed tomography.
RESULTS
The study population consisted of 11,884 men (mean age 41.9+/-6.6 years) and 2,544 women (mean age 42.9+/-8.0 years). The total prevalence of MS was 19.6%, with 21% in men and 13.2% in women. CAC (CAC>0) was found in 15.0% of men and 5.4% of women. When compared to the non-MS group, the MS group had a higher prevalence of CAC after adjusting for age, smoking, and family history of stroke and CHD in both men (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-2.05; P<0.001) and women (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.49-3.33; P<0.001). All individual components of MS, except high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, were associated with a high risk for CAC presence.
CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with MS had a greater prevalence of CAC compared with individuals without this condition.