New data from a national survey show that metabolic syndrome (formerly known as metabolic syndrome X) is a major risk factor for both heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke. (Click here for a review of metabolic syndrome.) Furthermore, the four major components of metabolic syndrome are each independently associated with increased risk.
A patient is now considered to have metabolic syndrome if any 3 of the following 5 components are present:
- triglycerides > 150 mg/dL
- HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/ dL
- fasting glucose > 110 mg/dL
- systolic blood pressure > 130 mm Hg or diastolic pressure > 85 mm Hg
- obesity (defined as BMI > 28.8 kg/m2) (Click here for information on calculating your BMI.)
The new study, published in the December 15 issue of Circulation, evaluated over 10,000 people for metabolic syndrome, and adjusted their data statistically to account for other risk factors such as age, sex, and smoking. Not only did they show that metabolic syndrome itself significantly increases risk, but also that having high triglycerides, low HDL, elevated glucose, or hypertension each independently and significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular events.
This new study should make more doctors and patients aware of the importance of metabolic syndrome. Since the prevalence of obesity - and the other components of metabolic syndrome - are rapidly increasing in western cultures, tests for the early detection of metabolic syndrome should become part of the routine medical examination.
