2.2. Subjects Characteristics
infections, hepatic or kidney disease
MALIGNANCIES, ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE, INFECTIONS, ELEVATED TRIGLYCERIDES
Subjects were included if they were adults (aged > 18 years) and excluded if they met any of the following criteria: excessive alcohol use, pregnancy, severe hepatic or kidney disease, serious infections, and malignancies. Moreover, all subjects had three or more of the following altered parameters: (1) elevated waist circumference (≥94 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women); (2) elevated triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) (or drug treatment); (3) reduced high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) <40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) for men and <50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) for women (or drug treatment); (4) elevated blood pressure systolic ≥130 and/or diastolic ≥85 mm Hg (or antihypertensive drug treatment); and (5) elevated fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL (or drug treatment). During the study, any dosage from concomitant therapies remained unchanged in order to avoid potential confounders. All subjects were naïve to statin therapy.