Factor Analysis of Metabolic Syndrome among Iranian Male Smokers

Background: Recent studies show cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have the tendency to intermingle. Integration between some biological and homodynamic risk factors have made the new hypothesis for etiology of CVDs. The aim of this study was to determine the clustering pattern of metabolic variables and left ventricular (LV) mass among smoker and non-smoker individuals and the interrelationship between these risk factors. Methods: 50 smokers and 50 non-smoker healthy males aged 20 to 60 yrs participated in the study. After completing a WHO standard questionnaire regarding smoking habits, medications and history of other diseases, physical fitness, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, plasma insulin, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a). A 12-lead electrocardiography and echocardiography studies were done to determine the LV mass. Results: No significant differences were found between smokers or non-smokers in regard to the studied metabolic variables except for LV mass (228.4 +/- 48.6 vs. 196.4 +/- 57.3 g; P< 0.05). The interrelationship of metabolic syndrome variables and other CVD risk factors among smokers was greater than non-smokers (P< 0.05). In the factor analysis, three components were retained both for smokers and non-smokers. A total of 59.5% of variance was explained in data for all subjects. Conclusions: Smoking has probably no relationship with components of metabolic syndrome; however the correlation between these risk factors and other homodynamic measures and LV mass was greater among smokers than non-smokers. No single factor can explain the clustering of the metabolic syndrome among smokers.