Metabolic syndrome and vascular risk: a 9-year follow-up among the aged in Finland

The aim was to analyze the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and vascular risk among the aged. A prospective population-based study, with a 9-year follow-up. All subjects of the municipality of Lieto in Finland aged ≥64 in 1998–99 participated (n = 1183). Hazard ratios (HRs) for fatal or non-fatal coronary (CHD), cerebrovascular (CV), or all vascular events predicted by MetS (defined by International Diabetes Federation) were estimated. During the 9-year follow-up, a total of 348 vascular events occurred, including 208 CHD and 150 CV events. After multivariable adjustment, CHD events (1.70, 1.07–2.71, P = .026) and vascular events (1.57, 1.07–2.30, P = .021) were more common in men with MetS compared to men without it. Evaluating MetS components individually, low HDL-cholesterol among women predicted a higher occurrence of CV (2.44, 1.46–4.09, P < .001) and all vascular (1.78, 1.26–2.53, P = .001) events. Elevated blood pressure among men was related to fewer CHD events (0.46, 0.25–0.83, P = .010). Our findings suggest that MetS does predict vascular events in late life among men. In older women, only low HDL-cholesterol was associated with vascular risk. Slightly or moderately elevated blood pressure values do not predict vascular events in this age group.