Association of metabolic syndrome and its components with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a general Italian population

The aim of this study was to examine the association of metabolic syndrome and its components with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a general elderly Italian population. To this end, 2910 subjects aged ≥65 years participating in the Progetto Veneto Anziani (Pro.V.A.) study were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up duration was 4.4 years. Data analysis revealed that metabolic syndrome (NCEP ATP III) was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the whole study population, and in women and men as well. High fasting glucose levels were predictors of all-cause mortality in all subjects and in women, and predictors of cardiovascular mortality in women. Furthermore, low HDL cholesterol levels were predictors of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in women. Among metabolic syndrome components, all cause-mortality is better predicted by high glucose levels in all subjects and in women, and by low HDL cholesterol in women, whereas cardiovascular mortality is better predicted by high glucose and low HDL cholesterol in women, among this general Italian elderly population.

Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular risk – HDL cholesterol – Impaired glucose regulation – NCEP ATP III definition – Plasma glucose