Proteinuria and metabolic syndrome as predictors of cardiovascular death in non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic men and women

Circulating Cardiac Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus: A New Dawn for Risk Stratification-A Narrative Review

The aim of this narrative review is to update the current knowledge on the differential choice of circulating cardiac biomarkers in patients with prediabetes and established type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There are numerous circulating biomarkers with unconfirmed abilities to predict clinical outcomes in pre-DM and DM individuals; the prognostication ability of the cardiac biomarkers reported here has been established, and they are still being studied. The conventional cardiac biomarkers, such as natriuretic peptides (NPs), soluble suppressor tumorigenisity-2, high-sensitivity circulating cardiac troponins and galectin-3, were useful to ascertain cardiovascular (CV) risk. Each cardiac biomarker has its strengths and weaknesses that affect the price of usage, specificity, sensitivity, predictive value and superiority in face-to-face comparisons. Additionally, there have been confusing reports regarding their abilities to be predictably relevant among patients without known CV disease. The large spectrum of promising cardiac biomarkers (growth/differential factor-15, heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, cardiotrophin-1, carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type 1, apelin and non-coding RNAs) is discussed in the context of predicting CV diseases and events in patients with known prediabetes and T2DM. Various reasons have been critically discussed related to the variable findings regarding biomarker-based prediction of CV risk among patients with metabolic disease. It was found that NPs and hs-cTnT are still the most important tools that have an affordable price as well as high sensitivity and specificity to predict clinical outcomes among patients with pre-DM and DM in routine clinical practice, but other circulating biomarkers need to be carefully investigated in large trials in the future.

Metabolic syndrome in children (Review)

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors, including central obesity, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and increased blood pressure. The prevalence of MetS is on the increase worldwide owing to the epidemic of overweight and obesity. The risk of prevalence of MetS greatly increases during adulthood for those children exposed to cardiometabolic risk factors in their early lives. MetS has also been associated with liver fat accumulation in children. Elevated levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase have been associated with liver fat accumulation. The present review aimed to expand knowledge on the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors responsible for the widespread occurrence of metabolic disease in children.

Diabetes and related metabolic conditions in an aboriginal cree community of quebec, Canada

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome according to International Diabetes Federation criteria in the First Nations Cree community of Mistissini, Quebec.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 172 adults was performed as part of a broader regional environmental study.

RESULTS

Type 2 diabetes, hyperinsulinemia and abdominal obesity were documented in 20%, 70% and 91% of participants, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 54%, with the main profile including abnormal plasma glucose levels (60%) associated with high triacylglycerol (40%). Women displayed the highest prevalence of abdominal obesity (99%). In both sexes, waist circumference was clearly associated with other metabolic parameters, such as blood glucose and lipid profile (p<0.0001). However, a significant proportion of the population (13%), especially women, showed high waist circumference with no metabolic disturbances.

CONCLUSION

Among the Cree population of Mistissini, the results suggest that the high prevalence of abdominal obesity occurs most frequently in women, and earlier in women than in men. Subsequent metabolic disturbances associated with metabolic syndrome develop with age, supporting the core role of abdominal obesity in the cascade of events leading to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular risk and the metabolic syndrome

Clustering of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components within individuals helps in the identification of subjects who are at increased risk for both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. In this review we describe how the presence of MetS influences CVD risk. Our review focuses on published studies through May 2006 referring to incident CVD in relation to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) definition of the MetS. We present data suggesting that the Framingham risk function is the most appropriate method for assessing CVD risk in subjects with or without MetS. We show how the CVD risk associated with MetS is influenced by the inclusion of subjects with diabetes and CVD at baseline, and by the development of diabetes during follow-up, and that this might explain why MetS may be a stronger risk factor for CVD in women than in men. We present data suggesting that CVD risk associated with MetS does not appear to be greater than the sum of its parts, and that adding CRP to MetS variables does not improve population CVD risk prediction. Lifestyle intervention and treatment of specific abnormal MetS components are appropriate until a better understanding of the pathogenesis of MetS is available. At such time we may be able to target the underlying causes of the syndrome and ultimately prevent the development of both CVD and diabetes.

Reduced proteinuria using ramipril in diabetic CKD stage 1 decreases circulating cell death receptor activators concurrently with ADMA. A novel pathophysiological pathway?

BACKGROUND

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade improves proteinuria and the endothelial functions in diabetic nephropathy. Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), abundant in the cell than in the plasma, is also improved by RAS blockage. We hypothesized that RAS blockade may reduce ADMA by reducing injurious cell death.

METHODS

In a hypothesis-generating study, we assessed circulating levels of apoptotic signalling peptides in incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1 patients (aged >18 years with diabetes mellitus type 2 as the only cause of nephropathy) not previously prescribed statins or RAS blockade. Ninety-three (29 M, 47 ± 5 years) patients with CKD 1 diabetic nephropathy and 38 healthy subjects (20 M, 47 ± 5 years) were enrolled. Ramipril was given (5 mg daily for 12 weeks), and circulating ADMA, soluble Fas (sFas), myostatin and endothelial function [flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD); ultrasound)] were measured.

RESULTS

After the study, ADMA, sFas, myostatin, insulin resistance, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood pressure and proteinuria levels were decreased, and FMD and serum albumin levels increased (P < 0.05 for all). ADMA and sFas levels were independently related to FMD levels both before (rho = -0.33; P < 0.005 and rho = -0.26; P < 0.02, respectively) and after (rho = -0.39; P < 0.001 and rho = -0.28; P < 0.002, respectively) ramipril treatment. Changes in sFas and ADMA were related to the change in FMD (-0.32; P > 0.004 and -0.31; P < 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

A reduction of proteinuria in CKD 1 diabetic kidney disease is accompanied by lower circulating sFas, myostatin and ADMA, suggesting that increased cell death may contribute to ADMA formation and endothelial dysfunction in diabetic CKD.

Cardiovascular event rates in diabetic and nondiabetic individuals with and without established atherothrombosis (from the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health [REACH] Registry)

The objective of this study was to determine cardiovascular event rates in diabetic patients and nondiabetic subjects from the REACH Registry with established coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, or multiple risk factors for atherothrombosis. REACH is an international, prospective, and contemporaneous cohort of patients with > or = 3 atherothrombotic risk factors only or established atherothrombotic disease, of which 30,043 have diabetes. The main outcomes after 1-year follow-up were cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), and MACEs/hospitalization. The MACE rate at 1 year was positively related to the number of atherothrombotic anatomic sites in diabetic patients and nondiabetic subjects, and the rate was higher in those with (3.8%) than without (3.0%, p <0.001) diabetes. Diabetic patients with risk factors only had a lower MACE rate than nondiabetic subjects or diabetic patients with established atherothrombotic disease (2.2% vs 4.0% or 6.0%, respectively, p <0.001 for the 2 comparisons). These differences persisted after adjusting for gender and age. In conclusion, diabetic patients in the REACH Registry have an increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to nondiabetic subjects related to the number of atherothrombotic sites. Although increasing risk, diabetes may not be truly equivalent to previous atherothrombotic events on new cardiovascular event rates.

Components of metabolic syndrome and their combinations as predictors of cardiovascular disease in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Implications for improved definition. Analysis from Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS)

AIM

The prognostic power of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with diabetes has been studied with inconsistent results depending on the definition of MetS. To clarify the best combination of MetS components to predict future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, we estimated CVD risk in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes according to MetS components.

METHODS

Patients were categorized according to the presence three MetS components in addition to hyperglycemia. hypertension, dyslipidemia and excess waist circumference (WC) (according to either Japanese or Asian cut-off values). Hazard ratios for CVD events were compared in patients with various categories of MetS components.

RESULTS

At least two components of MetS were required for a significantly elevated risk for CVD; however, component combinations with significantly increased risk differed depending on gender or the WC cut-off value. Any two among 1) excess WC (men > or =90 cm, women > or =80 cm); 2) hypertension (systolic blood pressure > or =130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > or =85 mmHg or use of an antihypertensive agent); and 3) dyslipidemia (triglycerides > or =150 mg/dL or HDL-cholesterol <40 mg/dL or use of drug treatment) could be used to identify significantly higher risk (approximately twice) for CVD regardless of gender.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the current MetS criteria should be modified when applied to patients with type 2 diabetes.

The natural history of the non-nephrotic membranous nephropathy patient

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although early studies suggest that patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MGN) and subnephrotic range proteinuria overall do well, these studies were small and follow-up was short or difficult to discern.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Three hundred ninety-five cases of idiopathic MGN with at least 12 mo of follow-up from the Toronto Glomerulonephritis Registry were reviewed to determine the outcome of the subgroup of patients that presented with subnephrotic range proteinuria. Onset and follow-up data included mean arterial pressure (MAP) and creatinine clearance (CrCl) as determined by the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Outcome variables included the rate of progression (slope of CrCl), 50% reduction in initial CrCl, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

RESULTS

One hundred eight (27% of the total) patients presented with subnephrotic proteinuria and almost 40% (42 of 108) of this subgroup remained subnephrotic. Their long-term slope was -0.93 ml/min/yr. In contrast, those who subsequently developed nephrotic range proteinuria had a progression rate almost four times faster (-3.52 ml/min/yr). The majority who developed nephrotic syndrome did so within the first year of follow-up. The only distinguishing baseline feature between the two groups was a higher level of urine protein in the group that subsequently developed nephrotic syndrome (1.98 [0.3 to 3.4] versus 2.43 [0.5 to 3.4] g/d).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MGN and sustained subnephrotic range proteinuria have an excellent prognosis. Conservative management with close monitoring is recommended given the difficulty predicting which patients will develop nephrotic range proteinuria and then progress more rapidly.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of mortality in middle-aged versus elderly individuals: the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Recent reviews indicate that the metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality, but evidence is scarce in elderly individuals. We therefore examined the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and mortality rates among individuals aged 40-59, 60-74 and 75-89 years. We also examined whether the syndrome was associated with mortality rates over and above the Framingham risk score.

METHODS

We studied prospectively 6,748 men and women who participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, Norway, from 1995 to 1997 (HUNT 2) and defined the metabolic syndrome by the International Diabetes Federation criteria.

RESULTS

During 53,617 person-years of follow-up (mean per person, 7.9 years), 955 individuals died, of whom 585 died from cardiovascular disease. Among individuals who were 40-59 years of age at baseline, the presence of the metabolic syndrome was associated with increased relative risk of cardiovascular and total mortality (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios 3.97 [95% CI: 2.00-7.88] and 2.06 [1.35-3.13], respectively, equivalent to population-attributable risks of 20.7 and 14.2%, respectively). The Framingham risk score accounted for less than one-third of the effect of metabolic syndrome on mortality rates. After the age of 60 years, the metabolic syndrome was not associated with increased mortality rates. We found a significant interaction between the metabolic syndrome and age on the relative risk of mortality. Results were confirmed in a sub-sample without cardiovascular disease at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for mortality, over and above the Framingham risk score, in middle-aged, but not in elderly individuals.

Comparison of diagnostic criteria of the metabolic syndrome in 3 ethnic groups of Canada

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities in which visceral obesity is a prominent feature. Although a matter of debate, the MetS essentially represents "at risk obesity." The purpose of this study was to compare the various definitions of MetS, with a special focus on abdominal obesity, and to explore sex and ethnic differences in the prevalence and nature of this syndrome in 3 ethnic groups residing in the Canadian province of Québec. The study population included adult participants of 3 cross-sectional health surveys conducted in southern Québec, James Bay, and Nunavik between 1990 and 1992. A total of 2613 adults (18-74 years old) were included: 1417 Quebecers, 817 Indian Crees, and 379 Inuit. The prevalence of MetS varied by definitions, and the highest agreement was observed between the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III and the International Diabetes Federation (79%). Most women (25%), regardless of ethnic origin, presented with a "triad" profile characterized by high waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein, whereas 20% of men had the "deadly quartet" of high blood pressure with the triad mentioned above. Furthermore, our results highlight an obvious difference in the impact of the increased abdominal obesity on metabolic parameters such as insulin resistance measured by the homeostasis model assessment according to ethnic origin (P < .001). These 3 unique population-based samples suggest that abdominal obesity does not have a similar deleterious impact according to ethnicity, suggesting the need for an ethnic-based MetS definition.

The impact of Type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria on future cardiovascular events in patients with clinically manifest vascular disease from the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) study

AIMS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whether these two complications are important and independent risk factors for future CVD events in a high-risk population with clinically manifest vascular disease is unknown. The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of Type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria on future CVD events.

METHODS

Patients with clinically manifest vascular disease (coronary, cerebral and peripheral vascular disease) from the Second Manifestation of Arterial disease study were followed up for 4 years. Data obtained from 1996-2006 were analysed. At baseline, there were 804 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean age 60 years) and 2983 patients without. Incident CVD (n = 458) was defined as hospital-verified myocardial infarction, stroke, vascular death and the composite of these vascular events.

RESULTS

Both Type 2 diabetes [hazard ratio (HR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16, 1.75] and microalbuminuria (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.49, 2.33) increased the risk of new cardiovascular events in univariate analyses. From multivariable models, presence of diabetes remained significantly and independently related to incident CVD (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.11, 1.80). Presence of microalbuminuria also remained significantly independently related to incident CVD (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.07, 1.77). In diabetes-stratified analyses, the effect of microalbuminuria on CVD risk was observed only in patients with diabetes. In microalbuminuria-stratified analyses, the significant and independent effect of diabetes on CVD risk was shown only in the non-microalbuminuric group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this high-risk population, both microalbuminuria and Type 2 diabetes are important and independent risk factors for future CVD.

Prognostic value of International Diabetes Federation and Adult Treatment Panel III definitions of metabolic syndrome in Type 2 diabetic patients: what makes the difference?

AIM

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) proposed new diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome (MS), lowering glucose and waist thresholds, and rendering abdominal adiposity necessary for diagnosis. In Type 2 diabetic patients, IDF-defined MS has a lower prognostic value than Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) criteria; this could depend either on lower thresholds for waist, or on the fact that adiposity was made necessary for diagnosis.

METHODS

Information on 3-yr all-cause mortality of a consecutive series of 882 Caucasian Type 2 diabetic outpatients was obtained by the City of Florence Registry Office. Two different modifications of ATP-III criteria were tested: low waist threshold (LWT), with same threshold as IDF, but with abdominal adiposity not considered a necessary condition; and elevated waist as necessary condition (EWNC), with the older ATP-III threshold.

RESULTS

Over the follow-up period, 115 (13.6%) deaths were recorded. A significantly higher mortality rate was observed in patients with LWT-, but not EWNC-defined MS, in comparison with the rest of the sample (14.2% vs 13.3%, p=0.705, and 14.7% vs 8.9%, p=0.050, for EWNC and LWT, respectively). Lowering the waist threshold did not reduce prognostic value in comparison with ATP-III definition of MS; conversely, when elevated waist circumference was considered a necessary condition for diagnosis, the predictive value for mortality decreased, irrespective of thresholds used.

CONCLUSION

In Type 2 diabetic patients, modification of thresholds for waist circumference does not alter the prognostic value of MS. However, if abdominal adiposity is considered a necessary condition for diagnosis, the ability of MS to predict all-cause mortality is markedly reduced.

Comparison of different definitions of the metabolic syndrome in relation to cardiovascular mortality in European men and women

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We estimated cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in individuals with the metabolic syndrome on the basis of different definitions.

METHODS

We collaboratively analysed data from 4,715 men and 5,554 women, who were aged 30 to 89 years, had a maximum follow-up of 7 to 16 years, and were drawn from nine European population-based cohorts. Cox regression analysis with age as time scale was performed to estimate hazard ratio (HR) for mortality, adjusting for cohort, serum total cholesterol and smoking.

RESULTS

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome according to definitions of WHO, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), NCEP revised and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was 27.0%, 25.9%, 32.2% and 35.9% respectively in men and 19.7%, 23.4%, 28.5% and 34.1% respectively in women. The corresponding HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 2.09 (1.59-2.76), 1.74 (1.31-2.30), 1.72 (1.31-2.26) and 1.51 (1.15-1.99) in men, and 1.60 (1.01-2.51), 1.39 (0.89-2.18), 1.09 (0.70-1.69) and 1.53 (0.99-2.36) in women. The paired homogeneity test showed that in men the HR was higher with the WHO definition than with the IDF definition (p=0.03). In women the HR was lower with the revised NCEP definitions than with either the WHO (p=0.02) or the IDF (p=0.01) definitions. With a few exceptions, HRs for full definitions of the syndrome were not significantly different from those for their single components.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Metabolic syndrome by the four definitions predicted CVD mortality in men, but the prediction was weak in women. Further research is required on the utility of definitions of the metabolic syndrome above and beyond that of its single components and in individual CVD risk stratification, particularly with regard to sex difference in the prediction.

Metabolic Syndrome May Not Associate With Carotid Plaque in Subjects With Optimal, Normal, or High-Normal Blood Pressure

Much evidence indicates that metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, but whether metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for early atherosclerosis in the individuals with only minor hemodynamic abnormalities, if any, is not well investigated. Here we have investigated the association between metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis in individuals with blood pressure of <140/90 mm Hg. Between 1994 and 2003, 8143 subjects underwent general health screening including carotid ultrasonography. Of 8143 individuals, 5661 individuals without antihypertensive medications who had blood pressure of <140/90 mm Hg were considered to have optimal, normal, or high-normal blood pressure. After adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and smoking status, metabolic syndrome was not found to be an independent risk factor for carotid plaque (odds ratio: 1.65; 95% CI; 0.72 to 3.76 in women and odds ratio: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.28 in men) or for carotid intima-media thickening (odds ratio: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.18 to 1.72 in women and odds ratio: 0.93 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.38 in men) in these subjects. Thus, presence of metabolic syndrome may not increase the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis independent of other cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese individuals with optimal, normal, or high-normal blood pressure.