The Metabolic Syndrome Adds Incremental Value to the Framingham Risk Score in Identifying Asymptomatic Individuals With Higher Degrees of Inflammation

Lifestyle and dietary factors associated with the evolution of cardiometabolic risk over four years in West-African adults: the Benin study

AIM

To assess in adults from Benin changes in cardiometabolic risk (CMR) using both the Framingham risk score (FRS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to examine the effects of diet, and lifestyles, controlling for location and socioeconomic status.

METHODS

Apparently healthy subjects (n = 541) aged 25-60 years and randomly selected in the largest city, a small town, and rural areas were included in the four-year longitudinal study. Along with CMR factors, socioeconomic, diet and lifestyle data were collected in individual interviews. A food score based on consumption frequency of four "sentinel" food groups (meat and poultry, dairy, eggs, and vegetables) was developed. Lifestyle included physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use. Education and income (proxy) were the socioeconomic variables.

RESULTS

Among the subjects with four-year follow-up data (n = 416), 13.5% were at risk at baseline, showing MetS or FRS ≥ 10%. The incidence of MetS and FRS ≥ 10% during follow-up was 8.2% and 5%, respectively. CMR deteriorated in 21% of subjects. Diet and lifestyle mediated location and income effects on CMR evolution. Low food scores and inactivity increased the likelihood of CMR deterioration.

CONCLUSION

Combining MetS and FRS might be appropriate for surveillance purposes in order to better capture CMR and inform preventive measures.

Metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with breast cancer and the independent effect of metabolic syndrome on breast cancer risk.

METHODS

Eighty-one women aged 40-80 years with breast cancer and 81 controls of similar age were screened for metabolic syndrome prevalence and breast cancer risk factors, including age at diagnosis, age at menarche, reproductive status, live births, breastfeeding, family history of breast cancer, physical activity, cigarette smoking, body mass index, and metabolic syndrome parameters. Each variable was first assessed for baseline comparisons using the univariate model, and significant variables were then added to the multivariate conditional logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 59.2% in breast cancer patients, and 37% in the control group (p < 0.005). A positive and independent association was observed between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer risk (odds ratio = 2.49; 95% confidence interval 1.17-5.30).

CONCLUSION

Metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in breast cancer patients and is an independent risk factor for breast cancer.