NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The prevalence of coronary heart disease is about twice that in people with the metabolic syndrome than it is in those without the condition, researchers report in the November 15th issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Recent estimates indicate about 25% of US adults have the metabolic syndrome and are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Dr. Wayne D. Rosamond of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and colleagues note.
To gain further information on the syndrome, the researchers examined data for more than 14,500 middle-age patients taking part in an atherosclerosis study.
The overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 30%. In black women, it was 38.4% and in white women, 28.2%. For black men it was 25.6% and for white men, 30.6%. Black women with a large waist circumference were at greatest risk (75.6%). In white women with a large waist circumference, the prevalence was 57.3%.
The prevalence of coronary heart disease was 7.4% in those with the metabolic syndrome. In those without the syndrome, the prevalence was 3.6% (p < 0.0001).
After adjustment for established risk factors, those with the metabolic syndrome were still twice as likely to have coronary heart disease.
In subjects without coronary heart disease and stroke, those with the syndrome also had significantly greater average intimal-medial wall thickness of the carotid arteries (p < 0.0001).
Thus, the researchers conclude, “identification of patients who have the metabolic syndrome may provide opportunities to initiate coronary heart disease prevention strategies.”
Source: Am J Cardiol 2004;94:1249-1254. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Behavioral Sciences: Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors: Data Collection: Demography: Behavioral Disciplines and Activities: Environment and Public Health: Epidemiologic Methods: Health: Health Occupations: Health Services Administration: Information Science: Medicine: Investigative Techniques: Morbidity: Population Characteristics: Preventive Medicine: Public Health: Quality of Health Care: Social Sciences: Specialties, Medical: Vital Statistics: Epidemiologic Measurements: Prevalence: Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation: Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms: Glucose Intolerance: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment: Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena: Biological Sciences: Health Care: Information Science: Psychiatry and PsychologyCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
