DOC News February 1, 2006
Volume 3 Number 2 p. 12
© 2006 American Diabetes Association
The Path to Diabetes and Heart Disease
Metabolic syndrome—a cluster of symptoms including impaired insulin
sensitivity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and a large waist size—is
considered by some to increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease
(CVD). But the studies that led to the definition of metabolic syndrome
included people with diabetes, which is known to increase the chances of
developing CVD two- to threefold.
Researchers analyzed data from 3,323 people participating in the Framingham
Heart Study—1,549 men and 1,774 women—none of whom had diabetes,
CVD, or coronary heart disease (CHD), and none of whom were very thin. They
were followed for 8 years. The findings were reported in the December 2005
issue of Circulation.
Investigators found that people with metabolic syndrome are much more
likely to develop type 2 diabetes, CVD, and CHD. Men with metabolic syndrome
were almost 3 times more likely to develop CVD, 2.5 times more likely to get
CHD, and nearly 7 times more likely to develop diabetes. Among women, the
results were similar, but at slightly lower levels.
The group concludes that it might be worthwhile for clinicians to look for
metabolic syndrome and treat it rather than wait for more serious disease to
develop.
Wilson PW, D'Agostino RB, Parise H, et al.: Metabolic
syndrome as a precursor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Circulation 112:3066–3072, 2005.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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