Metabolic Syndrome and Its Link to Heart and Blood Vessel Disease

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The metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk in diabetic and nondiabetic patients, by C.H. Saely and colleagues. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:5698–5703, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Doctors are becoming more concerned about metabolic syndrome (a group of symptoms including a large waist, high blood pressure, high levels of fats in the blood, and an inability of the body to handle glucose and insulin). People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to get cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels).

Insulin resistance (a condition in which the body does not handle insulin properly) is believed to be linked to metabolic syndrome.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

Researchers wanted to know the effect of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance on chest pain, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

Who was studied?

The study included 750 people who were being tested on their coronary arteries (blood vessels supplying the heart).

How was the study done?

Researchers collected detailed medical information about each patient, including lab tests. Participants were followed for 2.3 years.

What did the researchers find?

Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance were strongly linked to chest pain, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. A person with metabolic syndrome was more than 2.5 times more likely to have a bad outcome than somebody without the syndrome.

What were the limitations of the study?

The people in this study were being evaluated for disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart, so they already had some heart and blood vessel disease. The results may not apply to healthier people.

What are the implications of the study?

Metabolic syndrome is an important sign of heart and blood vessel disease. Whether treating metabolic syndrome reduces bad outcomes remains to be seen.

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