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Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Published on: September 27, 2024
Elevated cardiovascular risk factors in multiple sclerosis
Charly Keytsman1, Bert O Eijnde1, Dominique Hansen1
1REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Insights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including elevated fat mass and blood pressure. Managing body fat is crucial for reducing CVD risk in MS.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Neurology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to increased cardiovascular mortality.
- Understanding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in MS is essential for prevention.
Observation:
- MS patients showed significantly higher fat mass, fat percentage, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), and resting heart rate (HR) compared to healthy controls.
- Elevated blood triglycerides, fasting and 2-hour insulin, 2-hour glucose, and HOMA index were observed in MS patients.
- No significant differences in total cholesterol, HDL, or LDL levels were found between MS patients and controls.
Findings:
- MS is independently associated with increased fat mass/percentage, systolic and diastolic BP, and HR.
- Fat mass in MS patients appears to be an independent contributor to other measured CVD risk factors.
Implications:
- Individuals with MS have a heightened risk for CVD.
- Reducing whole body fat should be a key component of managing MS treatment to mitigate cardiovascular risks.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality. To prevent this a better understanding of their CVD risk factors and interrelations is necessary.
Methods:
MS patients (n = 52) and healthy controls (HC, n = 24) were matched for age, height, weight, body mass index and physical activity. Body composition, resting blood pressure (BP), resting heart rate (HR), glucose tolerance, HbA1c, blood lipids (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations) and c-reactive protein concentrations were analyzed. Regression analyses identified independent CVD risk factors and their interrelations in MS.
Results:
In MS and compared to HC, fat mass (25.1 ± 1.2kg vs. 17.9 ± 1kg), fat percentage (33.8 ± 1.2% vs. 28.4 ± 1.5%), systolic (130 ± 1.8mmHg vs. 120 ± 2.9mmHg) and diastolic (79 ± 1.1mmHg vs. 71 ± 1.9mmHg) BP, resting HR (72 ± 1.4bpm vs. 60 ± 2bpm), blood triglycerides (113.8 ± 8.6mg/dl vs. 98.2 ± 17.4mg/dl), fasting (13.5 ± 2.9mU/l vs. 7.2 ± 0.8mU/l) and 2h insulin (71.9 ± 12.5mU/l vs. 35.8 ± 8.1mU/l), 2h glucose (6.3 ± 0.5mmol/l vs. 4.8 ± 0.5mmol/l) and HOMA index (3.7 ± 1.1 vs. 1.7 ± 0.2) were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated. Total cholesterol, blood HDL and LDL concentrations did nog differ between groups (p < 0.05). Regression analyses indicated that MS is independently associated with elevated fat mass/percentage, systolic and diastolic BP and HR and in MS fat mass appears to be an independent contributor of the other measured CVD risk factors in MS.
Conclusion:
Persons with MS have an increased risk for CVD and fat mass appears to be an important risk factor. Therefore, normalizing whole body fat should be an essential part of MS treatment.
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