title: Metabolic syndrome and vascular risk: a 9-year follow-up among the aged in Finland.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, University of Turku, Finland. majosa@utu.fi
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Marikka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuoppamäki
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.forename: Ismo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Räihä
authors.forename: Kerttu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irjala
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivelä
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors