The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study the association between metabolic syndrome components and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in
both sex.
Patients & Methods: A total of 1387of adult in-patients attending three different hospitals were studied. Clinical
examination and specific investigations to clarify the incidence of a central metabolic factor (body mass index BMI,
high serum triglycerides TG and low high density lipoprotein HDL), a glucose factor and a blood pressure factor were
carried out. The presence of metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more risk factors.
Results: There were significant positive association between IHD defined by resting electrocardiogram (ECG) criteria
and the components of metabolic syndrome including obesity, elevated blood pressure, fasting and post challenge
hyperglycemia, high TG and an inverse significant association with HDL cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome was
present in 48% of studied IHD patients, with clear predominance of females 60%. Hypertension was the commonest
risk factor in both males and females (82%), obesity 57%, diabetes 20%; both more common in females. High
triglycerides present in 35%, while low HDL in 23%. These results support the thesis that the metabolic syndrome
exerts effects through different risk factors by different mechanisms.
Conclusions: the metabolic syndrome is common among ischemic heart disease patients and is related to modifiable
risk factors.