Metabolic Syndrome as a marker of cardiovascular events in hypertensives in primary prevention

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) as a predictor of cardiovascular events (CVE) in hypertensives in primary prevention. Patients and methods: This retrospective study involved 2410 non-diabetic, hypertensive patients (52% women, 43% with MS), without previous CVE. The total follow-up was 13096 patient-years with a median of 4,5 years (IIQ; 2,2-7,3). Results: Patients with metabolic syndrome did not have more risk of CVE (HR 1,19; CI 95%:0,89-1,58; p = 0,292), 183 patients had a CVE, 88 in patients with MS (15,4; Cl 95%:12,4-19,0 patients-years), and 95 in patients without MS (13,0; CI 95%; 10,5-15,9 patients/years) (p = 0,279). In a multivariate analysis corrected for other factors, only age (HR 1,08; CI 95%: 1,07-1,10; p = 0,001), male gender (HR 1,77; Cl 95%: 1,27-2,45; p = 0,001), smoking (HR 2,95; CI 95%; 2,01-4,34; p = 0,001) at the beginning, and values of systolic arterial pressure >= 160 mm Hg (HR 1,83; CI 95%: 1,17-2,89; p = 0,009) and cholesterol-low density lipoproteins >= 160 mg/dl (HR 1,58; CI 95%: 1,05-2,38; p = 0,029) during the follow-up, were associated with new CVE. Conclusions: In hypertensive non-diabetic patients in primary prevention the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome did not add any significant prediction about future CVE over the traditional risk factors. Systolic arterial pressure >= 160 mm Hg and cholesterol-low density lipoproteins >= 160 mg/dl, respectively, during the follow up were factors related to new CVE. (C) 2011 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.