The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in different samples varied, depending on the definition, from 0.8% to 35.3%, being lowest in control men and women and highest in hypertensive men. Three fourths of a random, middle-aged, urban population show at least one cardiovascular risk factor and 91.3% of all hypertensive subjects show at least one cardiovascular risk factor in addition to hypertension itself. The independent predictors of the metabolic syndrome were waist circumference, uric acid, total cholesterol and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in logistic analysis after adjustment for age, measure of obesity and gender. The magnitude of the prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome is largely at the same level in various populations, being less than one third in population-based samples in spite of the different definitions. The cluster of several cardiovascular risk factors, especially in hypertensives, leads to an increased relative risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Hypertension had a significant effect on IMT and on the prevalence of plaques in men, but its effect in women was not significant. A long duration of hypertension resulted in higher IMT values and a higher prevalence of plaques, particularly in men. Hypertension as a risk factor related to arterial plaque was different, depending on the plaque location in the carotid artery.
There are significant associations between GTP and the components of the metabolic syndrome. The independent predictors of the metabolic syndrome were BMI, uric acid, total cholesterol and GTP. Elevated levels of GTP may not always indicate increased alcohol consumption, but may also suggest the existence of the metabolic syndrome with its subsequent deleterious consequences.
The present study revealed inconsistent associations between different insulin measures and IMT after adjustment for the independent variables. In analysis of variance, no positive association between insulin parameters and IMT was found between 2-hour insulin quintiles after adjustment for the independent variables. The exclusion of diabetic subjects did not change the results.