Management of metabolic syndrome and associated cardiovascular risk factors

Patients with metabolic syndrome have a 1.5- to 3-fold increase in the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The association between metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases raises important questions about the underlying pathological processes, especially for designing targeted therapeutic interventions. Cardiovascular risk reduction in individuals with metabolic syndrome should include at least three levels of interventions : 1) control of obesity, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity; 2) control of the individual components of metabolic syndrome, especially atherogenic dyslipidaemia, hypertension, dysglycaemia and prothrombotic state; and 3) control of insulin resistance, a defect closely linked to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome generally precedes and is often associated with type 2 diabetes. Because of this intimate relationship, appropriate management of metabolic syndrome should be able to prevent the progression from impaired glucose tolerance to frank diabetes and thus to prevent type 2 diabetes, another important cardiovascular risk factor. The importance of prevention of diabetes in high-risk individuals (such as people with metabolic syndrome are) is highlighted by the substantial and worldwide increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in recent years. Owing to the complex pathophysiology and phenotypic expression of metabolic syndrome, lifestyle changes are crucial as they are able to positively and simultaneously influence almost all components of the syndrome. If such measures are not sufficient or not adequately followed, a pharmacological intervention may be considered. However, no official guidelines are available yet concerning the pharmacological management of individuals with metabolic syndrome. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2010, 73, 261-267).