Metabolic Syndrome Frequency and Its Effect on Mortality in Ischemic Stroke

OBJECTIVE: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in world populations and leads to substantial disability and labor loss in the population. Risk factors for stroke are important in terms of preventive medicine. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients having risk factors for stroke can prevent stroke. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is characterized by insulin resistance, and prothrombotic and proinflammatory processes, has become one of the important risk factors in the last century owing to its effects on mortality and morbidity. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of MetS on mortality in ischemic stroke.\udMETHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven patients (81 females and 56 males) without a previous stroke, who were diagnosed with ischemic stroke in the Neurology Clinic, within the 24 hours of the disease, evaluated in terms of etiopathogenesis, and fulfilled or not fulfilled the MetS criteria, were randomly included.\udRESULTS: The mean age was 69.78±10.76 years for the whole study group, 66.32±12.04 years for males and 72.18 ±9.12 years for females. MetS was present in 67 (48.9%) of 137 patients. Forty-six (56.8%) of 81 female patients and 21 (37.5%) of 56 male patients had MetS. With regard to mortality rates of patients with and without MetS; 7 (25.9%) of 16 patients who died within the first 10 days had no MetS, whereas 9 (37.5%) had MetS. Eleven (40.7%) of 19 patients who died between the 10th and 30th days had no MetS, whereas 8 (33.3%) had MetS. Nine (33.3%) of 16 patients who died between 3 months and 1 year had MetS, whereas 7 (29.2%) patients had no MetS.\udCONCLUSION: One-year evaluation of the patients with ischemic stroke revealed that MetS risk factor had no effect on mortality rates