[Prevalence and general features of the metabolic syndrome in the Spanish hypertensive population]. / Prevalencia y características del síndrome metabólico en la población hipertensa española.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MS) constitutes a risk factor for the development of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome in a sample of the hypertensive population. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional epidemiological study in 19,039 hypertensive patients attended in primary care centres. MS was defined using the National Education Cholesterol Program (NCEP) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. RESULT: The 44.6% of patients presented MS using NCEP criteria. This proportion rose to 61.7% when IDF criteria were applied. Compared with hypertensives without MS, those who fulfilled criteria were significantly (p < 0.0001) older, more frequently women, had higher blood pressure values, a poorer blood pressure control (14.4% vs 27.8%) despite the use of more antihypertensive drugs, and suffered more frequently of cardiovascular disease. Other significant abnormalities included higher serum total cholesterol, uric acid, and a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: MS is present in almost half of an unselected hypertensive population (two thirds using the newest criteria). It is more frequent in women than in men and it is associated with mild abnormalities in renal function. MS patients are more refractory to antihypertensive treatment, even with a higher number of antihypertensive drugs.

Prevalencia y características del síndrome metabólico en la población hipertensa española / Prevalence and general features of the metabolic syndrome in the Spanish hypertensive population

Fundamento y objetivo: El síndrome metabólico (SM) incrementa el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular y de diabetes mellitus tipo 2. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido examinar la prevalencia y las características diferenciales de los pacientes afectados de SM en la población hipertensa. Pacientes y método: Encuesta epidemiológica de una muestra de 19.039 hipertensos en atención primaria. Para la definición de SM se siguieron los criterios propuestos por el National Education Cholesterol Program (NCEP) y por la International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Resultado: El SM se diagnosticó en el 44,6% de los pacientes según los criterios del NCEP y en el 61,7%, según los criterios de la IDF. Comparados con los hipertensos no afectados de SM, los que tenían dicho síndrome presentaban de forma significativa (p < 0,0001) una mayor edad, mayor porcentaje de mujeres, cifras más elevadas de presión arterial, un peor control de ésta (el 14,4 frente al 27,8%) a pesar de la utilización de un mayor número de fármacos antihipertensivos y mayor prevalencia de complicaciones cardiovasculares. Igualmente se objetivaron en estos individuos cifras superiores de colesterol total, ácido úrico y un menor filtrado glomerular estimado. Conclusiones: El SM afecta a casi la mitad de la población hipertensa (hasta 2 terceras partes con los nuevos criterios). Existe un predominio del sexo femenino y se detectan alteraciones precoces de la función renal. Por lo que respecta a la hipertensión arterial, los pacientes con SM mantienen cifras de presión arterial superiores y un peor control de la presión a pesar del uso de un mayor número de fármacos antihipertensivos

Background and objective: Metabolic syndrome (MS) constitutes a risk factor for the development of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome in a sample of the hypertensive population. Patients and method: Cross-sectional epidemiological study in 19,039 hypertensive patients attended in primary care centres. MS was defined using the National Education Cholesterol Program (NCEP) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Result: The 44.6% of patients presented MS using NCEP criteria. This proportion rose to 61.7% when IDF criteria were applied. Compared with hypertensives without MS, those who fulfilled criteria were significantly (p < 0.0001) older, more frequently women, had higher blood pressure values, a poorer blood pressure control (14.4% vs 27.8%) despite the use of more antihypertensive drugs, and suffered more frequently of cardiovascular disease. Other significant abnormalities included higher serum total cholesterol, uric acid, and a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions: MS is present in almost half of an unselected hypertensive population (two thirds using the newest criteria). It is more frequent in women than in men and it is associated with mild abnormalities in renal function. MS patients are more refractory to antihypertensive treatment, even with a higher number of antihypertensive drugs