PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K-B. H. Lam
AU  - R. E. Jordan
AU  - C. Q. Jiang
AU  - G. N. Thomas
AU  - M. R. Miller
AU  - W. S. Zhang
AU  - T. H. Lam
AU  - K. K. Cheng
AU  - P. Adab
TI  - Airflow obstruction and metabolic syndrome: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00024709
DP  - 2010 Feb 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 317--323
VI  - 35
IP  - 2
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/35/2/317.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/35/2/317.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2010 Feb 01; 35
AB  - There is some evidence that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and metabolic syndrome may be related, perhaps through systemic inflammation, which is common to both. However, the association between the two conditions has not yet been clearly shown. The present study involved 7,358 adults aged ≥50 yrs from a population-based survey who underwent spirometry, a structured interview and measurement of fasting metabolic marker levels. Airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio of less than the lower limit of normal) was present in 6.7%, and the International Diabetes Federation metabolic syndrome criteria were met by 20.0%. The risk of metabolic syndrome was higher in those with airflow obstruction than in those without (odds ratio (OR) 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.92), after controlling for potential confounders. Of the five components of metabolic syndrome, only central obesity was significantly associated with airflow obstruction (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.09–1.88) after adjusting for body mass index. A similar association was observed in both never and current smokers. In this Chinese sample, airflow obstruction was associated with metabolic syndrome, and, in particular, its central obesity component. This may help explain the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in COPD, and so could guide future clinical practice.