Metabolic syndrome and risk for heart failure in middle-aged men

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Source: British Medical Journal

Released: Thu 18-May-2006, 20:00 ET

Embargo expired: Sun 21-May-2006, 19:05 ET

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/520651/?sc=dwhp

Metabolic Syndrome Significantly Boosts Risk of Heart Failure in Middle Age

Description

Metabolic syndrome significantly boosts the chances of heart failure in

middle age.

[Metabolic syndrome and risk for heart failure in middle-aged men Heart

Online First 2006; doi: 10.1136/hrt.2006.089011]

Metabolic syndrome significantly boosts the chances of heart failure in

middle age, suggests research published ahead of print in Heart.

Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of conditions, including obesity,

high blood pressure, unfavourable blood fat levels, and diabetes.

The researchers base their findings on regular monitoring of more than

2,300 men who were aged 50 between 1970 and 1974 and who were tracked

until the age of 70.

The presence of metabolic syndrome at the start of the study was

strongly associated with the subsequent development of heart failure.

Men with the syndrome were almost twice as likely to develop heart

failure as those without.

This was independent of any other established risk factors for heart

failure, such as coronary artery disease, a heart attack, smoking, and

poorly working heart valves.

The authors suggest that metabolic syndrome may directly affect the

heart itself as well as boosting the build up of fatty deposits in the

arteries.

The likely mechanism is insulin resistance and the subsequent excess

insulin circulating in the blood, say the authors. Insulin may

excessively enlarge the heart muscle (myocardium), so impairing its

capacity.

High circulating levels of insulin also stimulate the sympathetic

nervous system, thought to be a risk factor in heart failure, and cause

heart muscle cells to wither and/or stiffen.

Click here to view the paper in full:

http://press.psprings.co.uk/heart/june/ht89011.pdf

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