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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome
06:04

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

Differential impact of metabolic syndrome on arterial stiffness and wave reflections: focus on distinct definitions

Gregory P Vyssoulis1, Panagiota G Pietri, Eva A Karpanou

  • 1Hypertension Unit, 1st Cardiology Department of Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece.

International Journal of Cardiology
|September 23, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases arterial stiffness regardless of definition, but generally does not affect wave reflections in hypertensive patients. These findings highlight the clinical importance of assessing both arterial stiffness and wave reflections in MS.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Arterial stiffness and wave reflections are key cardiovascular disease predictors.
  • Metabolic syndrome (MS) is linked to increased aortic stiffness, but definitions vary.
  • Limited data exist on wave reflections and MS association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate arterial stiffness and wave reflections in relation to MS.
  • To compare MS definitions and their impact on these cardiovascular markers.
  • To assess wave reflections using multiple MS criteria.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 732 untreated, non-diabetic hypertensive patients.
  • Assessed MS using ATP III, AHA, WHO, IDF criteria, and GISSI score.
  • Measured arterial stiffness via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVc-f) and wave reflections via heart rate-corrected augmentation index (AIx(75)).

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive patients with MS showed higher PWVc-f across all definitions.
  • AIx(75) did not significantly differ between MS groups, except with WHO criteria.
  • PWVc-f association with GISSI score and MS components weakened after adjusting for blood pressure or BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial stiffness is elevated in MS patients irrespective of definition.
  • MS generally does not impact wave reflections, with a notable exception for WHO criteria.
  • Findings suggest clinical implications for assessing arterial stiffness and wave reflections in MS.
Abstract

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