Article Synopsis |  | Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a grouping of related metabolic factors that together predict an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. However, there has been controversy as to what represents a universally acceptable definition of MetS, and whether a diagnosis of MetS offers any better prediction of cardiovascular disease than that provided by each individual metabolic factor.
This paper examines 2,805 men and women aged over 60 to assess whether a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome improves the prediction of cardiovascular disease or total mortality beyond that already provided by conventional risk factors.
After examining the rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) events, ischaemic stroke events and total mortality, the study found CHD, ischaemic stroke and total mortality rates were higher in the presence of metabolic syndrome in men and women. This demonstrates that a diagnosis of MetS provides additional prediction of CHD events, stoke and total mortality beyond that provided by conventional risk factors. |