Data from: Metabolic syndrome is a strong risk factor for minor ischemic stroke and subsequent vascular events

Background Minor ischemic stroke (MIS) represents a major global public
health problem worldwide due to high incidence. The aim of this study was
to investigate whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a strong risk for MIS
and subsequent vascular events (SVE). Methods A retrospective cohort study
was performed examining symptomatic MIS in a Chinese neurologic outpatient
population aged over 25 years without history of stroke. MetS was defined
using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. MIS was diagnosed by
magnetic resonance imaging-diffusion weighted images or fluid-attenuated
inversion recovery. Results Of 1361 outpatients, a total of 753 (55.3%)
patients were diagnosed with MIS; of them, 80% had a score of 0 using the
MIS had a 0 score on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Among
these, 303 (40.2%) individuals with MIS were diagnosed with MetS.
Diagnosed of MIS with MetS significantly correlated with abdominal obesity
(30.7% v.s 18.0%), hypertension (91.1% v.s 81.6%), increased blood glucose
(6.9±2.4 v.s 5.0±0.4), dyslipidemia (78.2% v.s 48.2%), and SVE (50.5% v.s
11.3%) when compared with the controls group. On adjusted analysis, the
risk of SVE was also significantly associated with three additional MetS
criterion (RR,9.0; 95% CI, 5.677–14.46). Using Cox proportional analysis,
risk of SVE in patient with MIS was significantly associated with MetS
(RR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.799–6.210), older age (RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 1.001–1.048),
and high blood glucose (RR,1.1; 95%CI, 1.007–1.187). Conclusions The MetS
is a strong risk factor for MIS, and patients presenting with MIS and MetS
are at a high risk of SVE. Further studies are required to determine the
improvement of Mets prevention in the reduction of MIS and SVE.