Features of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus as predictors of aortic valve calcification in the...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Calcific aortic valve disease is prevalent in older adults and linked to cardiovascular risk factors.
• The association between metabolic syndrome and aortic valve calcium (AVC) prevalence was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and the prevalence of aortic valve calcium (AVC).
• To determine if metabolic syndrome components correlate with AVC prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized computed tomography (CT) to assess AVC in 6780 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.
• Compared AVC prevalence in individuals with metabolic syndrome (ATP III criteria), diabetes mellitus, or neither condition.
• Calculated adjusted relative risks for AVC in relation to metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.

Main Results:

• AVC prevalence was higher in individuals with metabolic syndrome (12% women, 22% men) and diabetes mellitus (17% women, 24% men) compared to those without (8% women, 14% men).
• Metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus were associated with significantly increased adjusted relative risks for AVC in both sexes.
• A graded, linear relationship was observed between the number of metabolic syndrome components and AVC prevalence in both women and men.

Conclusions:

• Metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus are independently associated with an increased risk of developing aortic valve calcium (AVC).
• The prevalence of AVC increases proportionally with the number of metabolic syndrome components present.