Predictors of global left ventricular function in metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that act synergistically.

The aim of this study was to determine which parameters were independently associated with the global left ventricular (LV) function in subjects with MS estimated with the Tei index.

The study included 234 subjects with MS and 96 controls adjusted by age. MS was defined by the presence of three or more of ATP- NCEP III criteria. All subjects underwent laboratory blood tests and two-dimensional, pulsed and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Appropriate tissue Doppler time intervals for the estimation of the Tei index were also assessed.

The Tei index was increased in subjects with MS (0.35 ± 0.05 vs 0.49 ± 0.10, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis of the clinical parameters showed that systolic blood pressure (β= 0.289, p < 0.001), fasting glucose (β= 0.205, p = 0.009), LV mass index (β= 0.301, p < 0.001), E/e'(septal) (β= 0.267, p < 0.001), and e'(septal) (β= -0.176, p = 0.011) were independently associated with the global left ventricular function estimated by Tei index.

MS has a significant impact on LV global function. Systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, LV mass index, E/e'(septal), and e'(septal) were independently associated with the LV global function.