Background: SCORE and FINRISK models are designed to estimate patient's risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Increased circulating oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and impaired arterial elasticity, on their part, are considered as markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are thought to be at high risk for CVD because of metabolic abnormalities.
Aim: To study among men with MetS whether subjects with three, four, or five MetS variables or different estimated 10-year CVD risk differ in oxLDL and arterial elasticity.
Methods: OxLDL was assessed by a capture ELISA and arterial elasticity by a radial artery tonometer among 120 men with MetS. Ten-year CVD risk was calculated for those without CVD or statin medication by FINRISK and SCORE at the actual age and at the extrapolated age of 60. Results. High-risk subjects by FINRISK and SCORE had impaired arterial elasticity. In addition, high-risk subjects by FINRISK at the extrapolated age had elevated oxLDL levels. The number of MetS variables did not associate with arterial elasticity or oxLDL.
Conclusion: Among men with MetS, estimation of 10-year CVD risk, especially when extrapolated to age 60, seems to differentiate subjects with respect to markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01119404.