Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic sclerosis

Background The metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for ischaemic heart disease. Patients with systemic lupus eriythematosus have un increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.1 There are no controlled studies of the metabolic syndrome in patients with SSc. Objectives To compare the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with SSc and controls and to evaluate its relationship to activity and severity of disease. Methods Methods: 50 consecutive patients with SSc (45 female, median age 48; range 20–72) and 50 controls (patients whit fibromyalgia) (45 female, median age 46; range 25–72) were studied. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was compared in patients and controls using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII): central obesity: waist. 102 cm in men and. 88 cm in women;2 hypertriglyceridaemia:>150 mg/dl;3 low HDL, 40 mg/dl in men and, 50 mg/dl in women;4 high blood pressure:>130/85 mm Hg or use of drugs for high blood pressure; and5 high fasting glucose >110 mg/dl, and associations with activity and severity of the disease were examined. Results The metabolic syndrome was present in 24% of patients and in 30% of controls subjects (p>0.05). Among patients with SSc, the metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with higher value of ESR (ESR >30) (5/7 vs 4/34;p=0.027). Neither disease activity nor severity scores were associated with the metabolic syndrome Conclusions Patients with SSc have a lower prevalence of the NCEP-ATPIII-defined metabolic syndrome than controls. This result may help to justify the coronary prevalence in SSc patients similar to that of the general population.2–3 References [1] Bengtsson AA, et al. PLoS One2016Jul;21;11(7). [2] Hattema ME, et al. Rheumatology2008;45:578–83. [3] Akram MR, et al. Rheumatology2006;45:1395–8. Disclosure of Interest None declared