Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Purpose
The use of different definitions of the metabolic syndrome has led to inconsistent results on the association between the metabolic syndrome and risk of cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between the metabolic syndrome and risk of cardiovascular disease.
Methods
A MEDLINE search (1966-April 2005) was conducted to identify prospective studies that examined the association between the metabolic syndrome and risk of cardiovascular disease. Information on sample size, participant characteristics, metabolic syndrome definition, follow-up duration, and endpoint assessment was abstracted.
Results
Data from 21 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. Individuals with the metabolic syndrome, compared to those without, had an increased mortality from all causes (relative risk [RR] 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.56) and cardiovascular disease (RR 1.74; 95% CI, 1.29-2.35); as well as an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (RR 1.53; 95% CI, 1.26-1.87), coronary heart disease (RR 1.52; 95% CI, 1.37-1.69) and stroke (RR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.37-2.25). The relative risk of cardiovascular disease associated with the metabolic syndrome was higher in women compared with men and higher in studies that used the World Health Organization definition compared with studies that used the Adult Treatment Panel III definition.
Conclusion
This analysis strongly suggests that the metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality, as well as all-cause mortality. The detection, prevention, and treatment of the underlying risk factors of the metabolic syndrome should become an important approach for the reduction of the cardiovascular disease burden in the general population.
aDepartment of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, La
bDepartment of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La.
Requests for reprints should be addressed to Kristi Reynolds, PhD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue SL-18, New Orleans, LA 70112.
Supported in part by grant number K12HD43451 from the National Institutes of Health to Dr. Reynolds.
ABSTRACT
