The metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome as a cardiovascular risk factor is a matter of controversy. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is affected by multiple factors such as age, sex, nutrition habits and socio-economic conditions which may directly influence the cardiovascular risk and also modulate traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as LDL-cholesterol level or smoking. Therefore we are confronted with a complex network of risk factors. Most studies found associations between traits of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, the total combined effects of the traits could be less than the sum of its individual effects. This illustrates that the components of the metabolic syndrome have partially overlapping mechanisms of pathogenic actions mediated through common effects.