title: Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is recently proposed as a predictor for the occurrence of vascular defects causing ischemic stroke. However, details on the association of MetS with stroke are scare in our region. The present study aimed to assess the predictive value of MetS and its components for stoke among the Iranian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal population-based study was conducted on adults aged 35 years or older who were living in 3 districts in central part of Iran and followed for 10 years. Stroke was diagnosed using World Health Organization guidelines, and MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel-III definition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 5398 subjects, 2021 suffered from MetS with an incidence of 37.4%. The incidence rates of stroke in those with and without MetS were 2.6% and 1.1%, respectively, with a higher significance in the former group (P = .026). Compared to the controls, participants with stroke exhibited a higher prevalence of some components of MetS including hyperglycemia and hypertension. On Cox proportional hazard analysis, the hazard ratio for a long-term risk of ischemic stroke was 1.37 overall (95% confidence interval: 1.15-1.63, P < .001) in subjects with MetS. Considering different components of MetS, hyperglycemia (hazard ratio = 1.83, P = .011) and hypertension (1.74, P = .019) could effectively predict occurrence of long-term ischemic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MetS and its main components can be potent predictors for long-term ischemic stroke. Thus, the focus should be on identification and appropriate control of MetS components to prevent stroke occurrence.
authors: Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Nizal
authors: N
authors: Sarrafzadegan
authors: Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: gharipour@crc.mui.ac.ir.
authors: Mojgan
authors: M
authors: Gharipour
authors: Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Masoumeh
authors: M
authors: Sadeghi
authors: Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Pouya
authors: P
authors: Nezafati
authors: Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Talaie
authors: Neurology Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Surveillance Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Shahram
authors: S
authors: Oveisgharan
authors: Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Nouri
authors: Interventional Cardiology Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medicine Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Khosravi
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Metabolic syndrome; hazard; prediction; stroke