1609-P: High Adiponectin Levels at Baseline and Increasing Adiponectin Levels over 2.4 Years Follow-Up Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Men

Aim: We aimed to assess the impact of change in adiponectin levels on incident metabolic syndrome (MetS) in healthy Korean adults.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 1,110 subjects without MetS at baseline. Plasma adiponectin levels were measured at baseline and again after a median follow-up 2.4 years. The subjects were categorized into 4 groups according to sex-specific adiponectin median levels at baseline and changes in adiponectin level at follow-up. The hazard ratio (HR) of new-onset MetS was calculated using Cox models.

Results: During the median 2.4-year follow-up period, 180 (16.2%) developed MetS. Compared to the low adiponectin at baseline and decreased adiponectin during follow-up group, the fully adjusted HR (95% CI) for new-onset MetS was the lowest in high adiponectin at baseline and increased adiponectin during follow-up group [0.33, (0.17-0.63)], followed by high adiponectin at baseline and decreased adiponectin during follow-up group [0.58,(0.40-0.84)], and low adiponectin at baseline and increased adiponectin during follow-up group [0.63, (0.41-0.93)], in that order (P for trend < 0.001). This phenomenon was more prominent in men than in women. Among MetS components, increased adiponectin levels during follow-up were significantly associated with lower risk of incident low-HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Conclusion: An increase in adiponectin level over 2.4-year follow-up period is significantly associated with a lower risk of developing MetS regardless of baseline adiponectin levels especially in men. These findings suggest that change in adiponectin level as well as adiponectin level at baseline might have a clinical role in developing MetS among men.