Metabolic syndrome in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1

: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and features of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Methods : We studied 66 DM1 patients (50% men, aged 41.9 ± 10.5 years, disease duration of 19.3 ± 8.6 years). New worldwide consensus criteria for MetS from 2009 were used. Results : Components of MetS were present at the following frequencies: hypertriglyceridemia 67%; low HDL cholesterol 35%; hypertension 18%; central obesity 14%; and hyperglycemia 9%. MetS was present in 11 (17%) patients. The presence of MetS was not associated with patients' gender, age, disease severity, disease duration, or CTG repeat length ( P  > 0.05). Patients with MetS had significantly lower total SF‐36 scores as a measure of quality of life in comparison to patients without MetS ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion : Although certain components of MetS were very frequent in patients with DM1, only 17% met the criteria for MetS. Muscle Nerve 52 : 273–277, 2015