Alireza Moaref - Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Majid Faraji - Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Maryam Tahamtan - Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND: The dramatic increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is associated with more increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this group. Some recent studies suggested that metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. In the present cross-sectional case–control study, the utility of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was examined to detect early LV systolic dysfunction in this population. METHODS: A total of ۷۵ clinically asymptomatic subjects with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ ۵۵%, ۳۹ without metabolic syndrome and ۳۶ with metabolic syndrome, matched for gender and age, were enrolled in this case–control study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. LV systolic function was assessed by STE-derived global and segmental longitudinal strain (εLL). RESULTS: Global εLL was significantly lower in patients with metabolic syndrome compared with normal population (−۱۸.۴۱ ± ۲.۲۰% vs. −۲۱.۲ ± ۲.۱%, P < ۰.۰۰۱). Segmental εLL was significantly lower in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison to control group except for basal anteroseptal (−۱۹.۹۵ ± ۲.۹۰% vs. −۲۱.۱۵ ± ۳.۳۰%, P = ۰.۱۰۶), basal anterolateral (−۱۷.۵ ± ۵.۰% vs. −۱۸.۳ ± ۴.۱%, P = ۰.۴۳۷), and basal inferolateral segments (−۱۸.۱ ± ۶.۳% vs. −۱۸.۹ ± ۴.۱%, P = ۰.۵۲۶). CONCLUSION: STE-derived longitudinal LV strain (εLL), a marker of subclinical cardiovascular disease, is impaired in asymptomatic individuals with metabolic syndrome and normal LVEF.   

Metabolic Syndrome, Two-dimensional Echocardiography, Systole, Ventricular Dysfunction, Asymptomatic Disease