Metabolic Syndrome Significantly Increases Risk of Death

Physicians need to provide adequate resources for their patients with metabolic syndrome to improve compliance to diet and exercise regimens.

People with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are much more likely to die from coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), or any cause than those without the syndrome, according to a study published on August 24th in the rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Dr. Nathan D. Wong, investigator stated that "given the multiple risk factor burden associated with the metabolic syndrome, we are not surprised it remains associated with a significantly greater risk of death."
The findings are based on 6,255 subjects in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2) who were followed for an average of 13 years.

Dr. Wong of the University of California, Irvine and colleagues classified subjects as having MetS if they had at least 3 characteristics. These consisted of obesity, low HDL, high triglycerides, elevated blood pressure or taking of antihypertensive medication and elevated glucose levels.

Of the total group, 26% had MetS and19.8% had pre-existing CVD. The remainder did not have MetS, diabetes, or CVD.
MetS raised the risk of CHD more than two-fold (adjusted hazard ratio 2.02). In those with pre-existing CVD, the adjusted hazard ratio for CHD death was 4.19. For CVD mortality, corresponding hazard ratios were 1.82 and 3.14, respectively, and for overall mortality, they were 1.40 and 1.87.

Moreover, subjects with only 1 or 2 MetS risk factors were also at increased risk of mortality from CHD and CVD.
In as statement, Dr. Wong recommended that "physicians provide adequate resources for their patients with metabolic syndrome to improve compliance to diet and exercise regimens."

"Many physicians," he added, "who may not have the time to counsel a patient for an hour on diet or exercise do not refer to a registered dietician or exercise specialist when they should."
Circulation 2004;110.