AUTHOR=Newsome Ta’Quoris A. , Graybeal Austin J. , Aultman Ryan S. , Vallecillo-Bustos Anabelle , Brandner Caleb F. , Swafford Sydney H. , Compton Abby T. , Parnell Sarah , Schimpf Rhett C. , Thorsen Tanner , Renna Megan E. , Stavres Jon 

TITLE=Examining the use of a continuous marker of metabolic syndrome severity for detecting resting autonomic dysfunction in a multiracial sample of young adults

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1508805

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2025.1508805

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=AimsTo determine if a continuous marker of metabolic syndrome (MetS) severity (MetSindex) could identify early-onset autonomic dysfunction in young adults at an elevated risk (ER) of MetS.MethodsBlood biomarkers and anthropometrics were collected from 178 individuals. Cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated during 10-min of rest. Linear regressions examined the associations between the MetS­index and cBRS, as well as select indices of HRV. These variables were also compared between individuals meeting the criteria for MetS (MetS group), individuals not meeting the criteria for MetS but having a positive MetSindex (ER), and healthy controls (Con) matched for sex, race, and ethnicity (n = 20 per group).ResultsAll indices of cBRS (all p ≤ 0.007) and the standard deviation of normal-to-normal r-r intervals (SDNN; p = 0.001) were attenuated in the MetS group compared to the Con group. However, no differences were observed between the Con and ER groups (p ≥ 0.395). The MetSindex did demonstrate a significant, albeit small (R2 ≤ 0.038, β≤ −0.168, p ≤ 0.028) association with all indices of cBRS and SDNN.ConclusionsThe MetSindex is associated with indices of cBRS and HRV, but is not currently able to detect early-onset autonomic dysfunction in young adults with an elevated risk of MetS.