Hypertension is the metabolic syndrome component most strongly associated with microvascular complications and coronary artery calcification in Type 1 diabetes.

AIM: To evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components with microvascular complications and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with Type 1 diabetes. MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study included 261 patients with Type 1 diabetes. Patients were assessed regarding the presence of MetS according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria. CAC score was measured in a subset of 100 patients without known cardiovascular disease.
RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 13.4% according to the NCEP criteria. Microvascular complications and CAC were more frequent in patients with MetS. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, MetS remained associated with nephropathy [OR: 6.33 (95% CI 2.54-15.77), p<0.001], but not with retinopathy and CAC. Among the MetS components, hypertension was associated with presence of retinopathy [OR: 4.04 (95% CI 1.65- 9.90), p=0.002], nephropathy [OR: 5.92 (95% CI 2.42-14.4), p<0.001] and CAC [OR: 2.97 (95% CI 1.06-8.30), p=0.03].
CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension was the only MetS component associated with retinopathy, nephropathy and the presence of CAC. Hypertension was better associated with CAC than MetS itself.