Metabolic Syndrome Compared With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Risk Factor for Stroke

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (hereinafter, “diabetes”) is a recognized risk factor for stroke and is now considered equivalent to coronary heart disease (CHD) in the guidelines set forth by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) (NCEP ATP III).¹ However, the atherothrombotic risk imposed by diabetes appears to antedate its overt appearance, lurking in a prediabetic state of insulin resistance lately characterized as metabolic syndrome (MetS).¹ Increased risk of coronary disease and stroke has been reported in persons with impaired glucose tolerance, MetS, and/or diabetes.^2-5 It has also been shown that the risk of CHD or stroke associated with diabetes varies depending on the cluster of risk factors that usually accompanies it.^4-6 These accompanying risk factors include those now characterized as MetS.¹