This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement All Versions of this Article: 52/5/865    most recent HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.110478v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rossi, R. Articles by Modena, M. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rossi, R. Articles by Modena, M. G. Related Collections Obesity Primary prevention Risk Factors Hypertrophy Related Article

(Hypertension. 2008;52:865.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Articles

Metabolic Syndrome Affects Cardiovascular Risk Profile and Response to Treatment in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women

Rosario Rossi; Annachiara Nuzzo; Giorgia Origliani; Maria Grazia Modena

From the Institute of Cardiology (R.R., A.N., M.G.M.), Policlinico Hospital; University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; and Centro "Bine Essire Donna" (G.O.), Azienda Policlinico di Modena, Italy.

Correspondence to Rosario Rossi, MD, Institute of Cardiology, Policlinico Hospital, Via del Pozzo, 71-41100 Modena, Italy. E-mail rossi.rosario{at}unimore.it

Metabolic syndrome is increasingly recognized as an important cardiovascular risk factor in hypertension, but its influence on the cardiovascular risk profile in hypertensive postmenopausal women has not been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome on the cardiovascular risk profile and the response to treatment. We enrolled 350 hypertensive postmenopausal women, 55±6 years of age (range 47 to 60 years of age). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of metabolic syndrome. Compared with those without, women with metabolic syndrome had higher waist circumference, body mass index, and levels of glucose, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol, as would be expected, based on definition. In addition, patients with metabolic syndrome had a cardiovascular risk profile less favorable, characterized by a significantly higher highly sensitive C-reactive protein (2.2±0.6 versus 1.7±0.7 ng/L; P<0.01), a more compromised endothelial function (flow-mediated vasodilation 2.4±2.2 versus 4.4±2.5%; P=0.01), and a significantly higher left ventricular mass (44±15 versus 41±16 g/m^2.7). Also, antihypertensive treatment induced a more modest improvement of both endothelial dysfunction and subclinical inflammation in women with metabolic syndrome. The results of our study show that in postmenopausal women, there are 2 different forms of hypertension: that which is isolated, and that which is associated with metabolic syndrome. This last form is related to a more severe risk profile, and response to therapy is less favorable.

Key Words: women • metabolic syndrome • hypertension • cardiovascular diseases • drugs • risk factors

Related Article:

Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: A Dangerous Cocktail for Older Women?

Luc Djoussé and J. Michael Gaziano
Hypertension 2008 52: 799-800. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Barton and M. R. Meyer Postmenopausal Hypertension: Mechanisms and Therapy Hypertension, July 1, 2009; 54(1): 11 - 18. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Djousse and J. M. Gaziano Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: A Dangerous Cocktail for Older Women? Hypertension, November 1, 2008; 52(5): 799 - 800. [Full Text] [PDF]