Published Online
on June 2, 2005

A more recent version of this article appeared on July 1, 2005

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Submitted on December 9, 2004
Revised on March 28, 2005
Accepted on April 8, 2005

Components of the Metabolic Syndrome and Risk for First-Ever Acute Ischemic Nonembolic Stroke in Elderly Subjects

Haralampos J. Milionis MD^*; Evangelos Rizos MD; John Goudevenos MD; Konstantinos Seferiadis PhD; Dimitri P. Mikhailidis MD, FRCPath; and Moses S. Elisaf MD, FRSH

From the Department of Internal Medicine (H.J.M., E.R., J.G., M.S.E.), School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece; the Laboratory of Biochemistry (K.S.), University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece; and the Department of Clinical Biochemistry (D.P.M.), Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hmilioni{at}cc.uoi.gr.

Background and Purpose--Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) represents a constellation of lipid and nonlipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease and is a recognized target for increased behavioral therapy.

Objective--The association between acute ischemic/nonembolic stroke and the MetSyn in elderly individuals was assessed in a population-based case-control study in the prefecture of Ioannina, Greece.

Study Population--A total of 163 patients aged older than 70 years admitted with first-ever-in-a-lifetime acute ischemic/nonembolic stroke and 166 controls were included.

Results--The prevalence of MetSyn (defined according to NCEP/ATP III criteria) was high in stroke patients (46.0% versus 15.7%, P<0.001). Compared with controls as a group (with and without MetSyn), stroke patients with the MetSyn showed higher concentrations of triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), uric acid, and fibrinogen, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels. In logistic regression analysis, crude and adjusted odd ratios (ORs) for MetSyn were 5.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.91 to 9.79; P<0.0001) and 2.59 (95% CI, 1.24 to 5.42; P=0.012), respectively. The analysis of interaction between MetSyn and its individual components revealed significant associations with abdominal obesity (adjusted OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.15 to 6.50; P=0.02), hypertension (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 0.91 to 4.49; P=0.08), high fasting glucose levels (OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.19 to 7.35; P=0.02), high triglyceride (OR, 5.55; 95% CI, 2.71 to 11.37; P<0.0001]), and low HDL cholesterol (OR, 5.42; 95% CI, 2.85 to 10.30; P<0.0001). Notably, in stroke patients with the MetSyn the inverse relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and ischemic stroke was negated (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.05; P<0.0001).

Conclusions--MetSyn is associated with an increased risk for acute ischemic/nonembolic stroke in elderly subjects with significant contributions from its individual components. In the presence of MetSyn, HDL cholesterol loses its protective role against ischemic stroke.

Key words: elderly • lipids • ischemic stroke • metabolic syndrome

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