Highlights
- •The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increased the risk of coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression with approximately 1.83-fold, and the risk of CAC progression was directly proportional to the metabolic burden.
- •Among the metabolic components, elevated blood pressure and triglycerides level independently contributed to CAC progression.
- •A significant reduction in metabolic burdens was associated with a halved risk of CAC progression in young adults having MetS, suggesting optimization of cardiovascular profiles in early adulthood might play a preventive role for CAC progression.
Abstract
Background and aims
We aimed to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and coronary
artery calcium (CAC) progression in statin-naïve young adults.
Methods
From the KOrea Initiatives on Coronary Artery calcification registry, we included
asymptomatic young adults aged 20–45 years who underwent serial CAC scans for routine
health check-ups. The primary endpoint was CAC progression. We estimated the risk
of CAC progression based on the presence and burden of MetS. Among participants with
MetS, the temporal relationship between changes in metabolic burden and CAC progression
was evaluated.
Results
Of 2151 young adults (mean age 41.3 ± 3.8 years; male 85.4%), 488 (22.7%) had MetS.
The mean CAC score was 10.8 and 81.3% of them had a CAC score of zero at baseline.
During follow-up (median, 2.1 years), CAC progression was observed in 325 (15.1%)
adults. MetS was associated with an approximately 1.8-fold increased risk of CAC progression
(adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.83, p < 0.001). The risk of CAC progression was directly proportional to the metabolic
burden. Elevated blood pressure and elevated triglyceride levels were independent
components related to CAC progression, with the strongest contribution being made
by elevated blood pressure (aHR 2.00, p < 0.001). A reduction in at least two metabolic burdens was associated with a halved
risk of CAC progression in young adults having MetS (odds ratio 0.41, p = 0.018).
Conclusions
In statin-naïve young adults, the metabolic burden was associated with a risk of CAC
progression in a dose-dependent manner. Improvement in metabolic imbalance may have
a preventive effect on CAC progression.
Graphical abstract
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 06, 2022
Accepted:
September 27,
2022
Received in revised form:
September 6,
2022
Received:
July 10,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
