Carotid artery atherosclerosis in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome

Objective To explore the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and atherosclerosis by measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) and the plaque of carotid artery. Methods A tolal of 147 patients were divided into three groups: MS group, essential hypertension (EH) group and diabetes mellitus (DM) group and 30 normal adults served as control group. The thickness of carotid intima-media and the score of plaque were measured with color ultrasonography in all patients. Plasma lipids, fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference were measured in all subjects. Results IMT of common carotid artery, the plaque score, plaque occurrence rate were significantly higher in MS group than in EH and DM groups. IMT of common carotid artery in MS group, EH group and DM group was higher than that in control group . Level of TG in MS group was higher than that in EH group and DM group, while the level of LDL-c was obviously higher than that in EH group, and the level of TC was higher than that in EH group and DM group. Conclusion Atherosclerosis of carotid artery was more severe in MS patients than in those with simple hypertension or DM.Metabolic syndrome accelerates the development of atherosclerosis.