Assessment of Arterial Stiffness in Metabolic Syndrome Related to Insulin Resistance in Apparently Healthy Men

Background: Assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome is one of the global health targets' priorities. This study aimed to evaluate the subclinical atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome related to insulin resistance in healthy and physically active men. Methods: A consecutive group of 68 healthy men, 30-55 years of age, was studied. Anthropometric parameters, proinflammatory factors, and insulin level were measured, and pulse wave analysis (PWA) was performed by applanation tonometry and then processed with dedicated software (SphygmoCor((R))). The metabolic syndrome was defined according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and metabolic health as 1 component of metabolic syndrome according to the Joint Interim Statement criteria. Results: The odds ratio of insulin resistance for metabolic syndrome was 5.16 (95% confidence interval: 1.44-18.5), P=0.008. In PWA, metabolically healthy subjects had lower aortic systolic and diastolic, and cardiac end-systolic pressures (103.59.9 vs. 108.8 +/- 11.0), P=0.03, (76.2 +/- 8.8 vs. 80.6 +/- 7.8), P=0.04, and (96.5 +/- 9.2 vs. 101 +/- 10.1), P=0.05, respectively. Furthermore, metabolic syndrome was accompanied by higher ejection duration% (38.8 +/- 3.5 vs. 36.9 +/- 2.8), P=0.04, and lower subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) (139.8 +/- 17.7 vs. 150.9 +/- 17.6), P=0.05. Insulin resistance was associated with higher cardiac end-systolic pressure (103.0 +/- 6.9 vs. 96.7 +/- 10.4), P=0.015. Conclusion: Metabolic risk factors had incremental correlations with central arterial pressures and cardiac end-systolic pressure. Furthermore, the composite of metabolic syndrome components imposed additional load on cardiac muscle by higher cardiac ejection duration and impairment in perfusion with lower Buckberg SEVR. Likewise, insulin resistance could be an early marker of arterial stiffness in healthy and active young to middle-age men.