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METABOLIC SYNDROME IN THE ELDERLY
Mekeirele K., Janssens W., D?Souza R., Petrovic M.
Background
A working definition of the metabolic syndrome (MS) establishes the following domains to be considered: fasting bloodglucose (FPG) higher than 100 mg/dl or antidiabetic treatment; bloodpressure (BP) ≥ 130/85 mmHg or antihypertensive treatment; triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl, HDL less than 40 mg/dl for men and 50 mg/dl for women or lipid lowering treatment; a waist circumference >94 cm for men and >80 cm for women. MS is a potent cardiovascular risk factor. The prevalence of 30% in the elderly has been reported.
Aim of the study
To examine (1) the prevalence of MS and (2) the relationship between the components of MS in elderly inpatients (aged ≥ 70).
Methods
This cross-sectional study examined 100 patients consecutively admitted to the geriatric ward.
Results
We found MS in 48 patients, while a BMI of ≥ 25 was found only in 30 of these patients.
In 69 patients we found a high waist circumference, 24 of them having a BMI < 25.
Out of 52 patients without MS, 11 had a BMI ≥ 25.
Microalbuminuria was found in 9 patients with MS, all of them having high BP and diabetes or FPG ≥ 100 mg/dl.
Conclusion
BMI in the elderly patient does not appear to be a good predictor for MS which is consistent with recent results in younger patients. In addition, waist circumference does not seem to correlate with BMI.
If a patient with MS has microalbuminuria, the co-presence of high BP and/or an elevated FPG seems probable.
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