Characteristics of study samples.

The data were transformed into rank cases or dichotomic variables. BMI = body mass index, Glu = Glucose, HbA1C = glycosylated hemoglobin, SBP = systolic blood pressure, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, Lp(a) = Lipoprotein (a), LDL-C = low density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C = high density lipoprotein cholesterol, TG = triglycerides, TC = total cholesterol. Group 1 included participants without hypertension or diabetes, group 2 included patients with hypertension, group 3 included patients with diabetes and group 4 included patients with both hypertension and diabetes.