Aggregation pattern and factorial analysis of cardiovascular risk factors included in the metabolic syndrome in a Spanish non-diabetic population : the VIVA study *

131 Abstract Aims: The aim of this study is to describe the most frequent cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) clustering related to the metabolic syndrome (MS) in a non-diabetic Spanish population sample. Test by factorial analysis if the CVRF in the MS can be considered manifestations of a unique common factor. Materials and methods: Observational, multicenter, transversal epidemiologic study. 2583 subjects aged 3065 were randomly assigned from nine population registries. Exclusive aggregations were considered. Correlation among the MS variables was analyzed using factorial analysis. Results: In order of frequency the prevalence of conventional CVRF was: dyslipidemia: 34% (CI95%: 32-35.5); hypertension: 32% (CI95%: 30.2-33.8); obesity: 27% (CI95%: 25.3-28.7); hyperglycaemia: 23% (CI95%: 21.6-25). 22% of the population showed 2 CVRF and 11% 3 CVRF. The most common CVRF aggregations were hypertension-obesity (5.3%; CI95%: 4.4-6.2) and hypertension-obesity-hyperglycaemia (4.1%; CI95%: 3.3-5). MS specific risk variables tended to aggregate in three factors: factor 1 (BMI, waist circumference and basal glycaemia), factor 2 (insulin, glycaemia 2h, and arterial blood pressure), factor 3 (total cholesterol/HDL, triglycerides). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of CVRF and MS in the population studied. Analysis of the metabolic syndrome does not contribute with additional information to predict cardiovascular risk in susceptible patients, as compared to the clustering of CVRF. Factorial analysis do not confirm the existence of a unifying factor to explain MS.