OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, regarded as an important risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke, is growing. However, the association between the metabolic syndrome and stroke, particularly in patients following coronary revascularization, remains unknown. Therefore, the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and stroke was examined among patients who had achieved complete coronary revascularization. METHODS: 1836 consecutive patients who had achieved complete revascularization from 1984 to 1992 were studied. The patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of the metabolic syndrome using the modified AHA/NHLBI statement (obesity was defined as a body mass index >or=25 kg/m(2)). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used for adjusted analyses for all-cause and cardiac mortality, as well as for the incidence of fatal and non-fatal stroke. RESULTS: The progress of 826 (45.0%) patients with the metabolic syndrome and 1010 (55.0%) patients without the metabolic syndrome was analyzed. The mean follow-up was 11.4+/-2.9 years. Overall, there were 130 (7.1%) strokes, and the risk of stroke was significantly higher in patients with metabolic syndrome than in those without metabolic syndrome (HR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0-2.1; P=0.045). CONCLUSION: The presence of the metabolic syndrome is a significant predictor of stroke, as well as all-cause and cardiac mortality, among patients who achieve complete coronary revascularization.
OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, regarded as an important risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke, is growing. However, the association between the metabolic syndrome and stroke, particularly in patients following coronary revascularization, remains unknown. Therefore, the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and stroke was examined among patients who had achieved complete coronary revascularization. METHODS: 1836 consecutive patients who had achieved complete revascularization from 1984 to 1992 were studied. The patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of the metabolic syndrome using the modified AHA/NHLBI statement (obesity was defined as a body mass index >or=25 kg/m(2)). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used for adjusted analyses for all-cause and cardiac mortality, as well as for the incidence of fatal and non-fatal stroke. RESULTS: The progress of 826 (45.0%) patients with the metabolic syndrome and 1010 (55.0%) patients without the metabolic syndrome was analyzed. The mean follow-up was 11.4+/-2.9 years. Overall, there were 130 (7.1%) strokes, and the risk of stroke was significantly higher in patients with metabolic syndrome than in those without metabolic syndrome (HR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0-2.1; P=0.045). CONCLUSION: The presence of the metabolic syndrome is a significant predictor of stroke, as well as all-cause and cardiac mortality, among patients who achieve complete coronary revascularization.