title: Metabolic syndrome and its components as predictors of ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The available data regarding the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) or MS components and ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetics are limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate these associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred ninety-nine consecutive type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 60.4+/-9.6 years, 54% men) were followed-up for 10.1 years (median period). Baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics and the occurrence of a first-ever ischemic stroke during follow-up were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight patients developed a first-ever ischemic stroke. According to Cox proportional hazard model, waist circumference (hazard ratio, HR:1.006, 95% CI:1.002 to 1.010, P=0.003) and age (HR:1.061, 95% CI:1.002 to 1.125, P=0.04) were significant predictors. After incorporating various combinations of MS components in multivariate models, only age and waist circumference remained significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS per se at baseline or combinations of its components do not predict the development of ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetic patients. Waist circumference represents an independent prognostic factor and could be used as a clinical tool for stroke prevention in this population.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Protopsaltis
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korantzopoulos
authors.forename: Haralampos J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Milionis
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutsovasilis
authors.forename: Georgios K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulos
authors.forename: Eftihia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dimou
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kokkoris
authors.forename: Paris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brestas
authors.forename: Moses S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elisaf
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melidonis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*