Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity strongly associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Chinese
This population-based study was designed to determine the association between arterial stiffness assessed as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and metabolic syndrome in 1018 Taiwanese Chinese aged ≥40 years. The homeostasis model assessment was used to estimate the degree of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (modified NCEP ATP III definition) and its components rose with increasing baPWV quartiles. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, multiple regression analysis revealed that baPWV groups were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased with increasing age, HOMA-IR, and body mass index. The baPWV cutoff values for metabolic syndrome were 1539 cm/sec in men and 1482 cm/sec in women. In conclusion, baPWV appears to be strongly associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Taiwanese Chinese, and baPWV cutoff values for cardiovascular disease differ between genders.


















