Cumulative metabolic syndrome score linked to cardiometabolic disease in 3,322 Chinese adults

Researchers used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) to examine how the metabolic syndrome score (MetSS) and its change over time relate to the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The results were published in Cardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reports. biomedcentral.comCardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reportsbiomedcentral.comOpen source ↗ The analysis included 3,322 eligible participants. Of them, 679 developed a first cardiometabolic disease (FCMD) and 101 progressed to CMM.

Progression was defined in stages: free of cardiometabolic disease, then a first cardiometabolic disease, then multimorbidity, meaning the coexistence of two or more such conditions. Mean participant age was 57.62 years, and 46.48 percent were men.

How the score and its dynamics were measured

MetSS was calculated with age- and sex-specific equations developed for Chinese populations. Cumulative exposure (cuMetSS) was calculated as (MetSS2012 + MetSS2015)/2 × time (2015 − 2012). To describe changes in the score, the authors applied K-means clustering, which produced 4 clusters. According to the publication's description, these were a persistently low level, a median level with a marked increase, a median level with a steady decrease, and a persistently high level.

The association with CMM progression was tested with logistic regression and restricted cubic splines in 3 models. Subgroup and interaction analyses examined the role of physical activity.

Results and the role of physical activity

The risk of CMM increased with both baseline MetSS and cuMetSS in all 3 models. biomedcentral.comCardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reportsbiomedcentral.comOpen source ↗ Baseline MetSS on a continuous scale was not significantly associated with FCMD (all P > 0.05).

Cumulative MetSS on a continuous scale was associated with a higher risk of FCMD. In model 1, adjusted for age and gender, the odds ratio was 1.02 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.03, P = 0.006). In model 2, which added education, marital status, residence, drinking status, smoking status, BMI and comorbidity, it was 1.02 (1.00 to 1.03, P = 0.008).

When physical activity was added in model 3, the association was no longer statistically significant (P > 0.05). Subgroup analyses showed significance only in the groups with inactive or vigorous physical activity.

The authors conclude that cumulative exposure to MetSS and its dynamic change patterns were associated with FCMD and CMM, and that physical activity modifies the associations of cuMetSS and the change patterns with the risk of FCMD. biomedcentral.comCardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reportsbiomedcentral.comOpen source ↗