Do statins reduce events in patients with metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome, which affects approximately 25% of the adults in the United States, consists of a constellation of inter-related metabolic risk factors associated with promoting the risk for development of cardiovascular disease. Multiple definitions, which include insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and inflammation, have been proposed. Lifestyle change is the cornerstone of therapy for metabolic syndrome, although additive pharmacotherapy is often necessary in many patients. This review examines the potential for statin therapy to benefit individuals with dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in both primary and secondary prevention settings.