Subclinical Vascular Dysfunction Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in African Americans and Whites

The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) identifies individuals at risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. African Americans (AAs) have high rates of cardiovascular disease and subclinical vascular disease including arterial stiffness and microvascular dysfunction but have relatively low rates of MetS.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between MetS and vascular function in a biracial cohort with the hypothesis that the diagnosis of MetS underestimates subclinical vascular disease in AAs.

We measured components of MetS in a community-based cohort of 951 AAs and white subjects (aged 48.8 ± 11 y, 47% AA, 55% female).

Using digital pulse amplitude tonometry, we estimated the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), a measure of microvascular endothelial function. Using applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor), central augmentation index (CAIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured as indices of wave reflections and arterial stiffness, respectively.

MetS was present in 24.0% of subjects and was associated with increased PWV (P < .001) and CAIx (P < .001) and a trend to lower RHI (P = .068) in both races. However, in subjects without MetS, AAs had lower RHI (P < .001) and higher PWV (P = .003) and CAIx (P = .002) compared with white subjects. Addition of an extra MetS criterion point for AAs with hypertension eliminated the racial differences in PWV and CAIx but not RHI.

Although MetS is associated with microvascular dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness in both racial groups, AAs without MetS have greater vascular dysfunction compared with whites. Additional weighting for hypertension in AAs attenuated the racial differences in subclinical disease associated with MetS.