Metabolic Syndrome in Polish Ischemic Stroke Patients

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2015 Sep;24(9):2167-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.06.003. Epub 2015 Jul 7.

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) predisposes individuals to cardiovascular disease or stroke development. We aimed at evaluating the prevalence of MetS in a population of acute ischemic stroke (IS) patients from central Poland and at estimating the relationship between MetS and stroke risk.

Methods: We analyzed 672 IS patients who were consecutively admitted to stroke units. The control group was composed of 612 patients with other neurologic disorders. MetS was diagnosed if 3 of 5 factors were present (obesity, increased blood pressure, increased triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and fasting hyperglycemia) according to the Unified Criteria for Clinical Diagnosis of the Metabolic Syndrome (2009).

Results: MetS was diagnosed in 61.2% of stroke patients versus 18.1% of the control group (P < .001). Multiple logistic regression showed that MetS was 1.8 times more common in women than in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-2.5). The adjusted OR (95% CI) associated with MetS was 2.44 (1.48-3.64; P < .001) for IS. Hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia were the most frequent disturbances of IS patients (87.2% and 68.2%, respectively). The analysis of the interaction between MetS and its components showed significant associations with hypertension (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, .98-4.24; P < .01), high triglyceride levels (OR, 4.35; 95% CI, 2.87-9.43; P < .0001), and low HDL cholesterol levels (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 3.15-8.20; P < .001).

Conclusions: Over 60% of Polish IS patients have MetS. The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in women than in men. Thus, MetS may be a risk factor for IS.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Poland; ischemic stroke; prevalence.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Brain Ischemia / complications*
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Metabolic Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Metabolic Diseases / etiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Stroke* / complications
  • Stroke* / epidemiology
  • Stroke* / etiology
  • Triglycerides

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Triglycerides