Impaired renal function and atherosclerosis in a Pakistani cohort

Waist circumference, metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease in a Pakistani cohort

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (M-IRS) is common in Asians. This study investigated the relationship of two definitions of M-IRS to atherosclerosis in Indian Asians with suspected coronary arterial disease (CAD).

METHODS

400 patients with chest pain selected for the presence or absence of angiographic disease were recruited from a tertiary referral centre in Pakistan into a prospective case-control study. Patients were categorized by the National Cholesterol Education Program adult treatment panel 3 (NCEP) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions of the metabolic syndrome and the relationship of these to the presence of CAD and extent of atheroma burden was investigated.

RESULTS

M-IRS was present in 53% by IDF criteria and in 44% using the Asian criteria for NCEP. The 2 populations identified were only 69% concordant. No relationship existed between the presence of NCEP M-IRS and atheroma burden. In contrast, the presence of IDF M-IRS was associated with CAD (65 vs. 34%; RR=1.88; p<0.001) and angiographic disease burden (28 [0-224] vs. 0 (0-198); RR=1.83; p<0.001). This association persisted (beta=18.4; p<0.001) after correction for C-reactive protein (beta=8.67; p<0.001), lipoprotein (a) (beta=8.14; p=0.002), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (beta=-0.22; p=0.01). Differences in presumed underlying factors were found in the 2 populations identified by the definitions though both agreed on the separate weightings given to blood pressure and HDL-C/apolipoprotein A1.

CONCLUSIONS

The specific Asian IDF and NCEP definitions of M-IRS show limited concordance in Pakistanis. The IDF criteria in contrast to the NCEP criteria are associated with the presence of CAD even after allowing for other risk factors identified in this population.

Effect of orlistat, micronised fenofibrate and their combination on metabolic parameters in overweight and obese patients with the metabolic syndrome: the FenOrli study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is becoming increasingly common worldwide and is strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is considered to be a cluster of risk factors that increase the risk of vascular events.

OBJECTIVE

In an open-label randomised study (the FenOrli study) we assessed the effect of orlistat and fenofibrate treatment, alone or in combination on reversing the diagnosis of the MetS (primary end-point) as well as on anthropometric and metabolic parameters (secondary end-points) in overweight and obese patients with MetS but no diabetes.

METHODS

Overweight and obese patients (N = 89, body mass index (BMI) > 28 kg/m2) with MetS [as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria] participated in the study. Patients were prescribed a low-calorie low-fat diet and were randomly allocated to receive orlistat 120 mg three times a day (tid) (O group), micronised fenofibrate 200 mg/day (F group), or orlistat 120 mg tid plus micronised fenofibrate 200 mg/day (OF group). Body weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, triglyceride, creatinine (SCr) and uric acid (SUA) levels, as well as homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and liver enzyme activities were measured at baseline and after 3 months of treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 89 patients enrolled, three (one in each group) dropped out during the study due to side effects. After the 3-month treatment period, 43.5% of patients in the O group, 47.6% in the F group and 50% in the OF group no longer met the MetS diagnostic criteria (primary end-point, p < 0.0001 vs. baseline in all treatment groups). No significant difference in the primary end-point was observed between the three treatment groups. Significant reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, triglyceride and SUA levels, as well as gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and HOMA index were observed in all treatment groups. In the OF group a greater decrease in TC (-26%) and LDL-C (-30%) was observed compared with that in the O and F groups (p < 0.01) and a more pronounced reduction of triglycerides (-37%) compared with that in the O group (p < 0.05). SUA levels and alkaline phosphatase activity decreased more in the F and OF groups compared with the O group (p < 0.05). Moreover, SCr significantly increased and estimated creatinine clearance decreased in the F and OF groups but they were not significantly altered in the O group (p < 0.01 for the comparison between O and either F or OF groups). Glucose (in groups O and OF), as well as insulin levels and HOMA index (in all groups), were significantly reduced after treatment (p < 0.05 vs. baseline).

CONCLUSION

The combination of orlistat and micronised fenofibrate appears to be safe and may further improve metabolic parameters in overweight and obese patients with MetS compared with each monotherapy.