Hipertensión arterial y síndrome metabólico

Patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) make up a priority group for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk in Primary Health Care (PHC). Their identification based on clinical criteria recommended by the NCEP-ATP (National Colesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel) III enormously facilitates the diagnosis in our setting. Insulin resistance (IR) constitutes the common pathogenic base of MS, although obesity and abdominal distribution of fat also have an important role, the relationship between some inflammation markers (proteine C reactive [PCR], interleucin 6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor alfa [TNF-α])” and MS being well-compared. Multifactorial intervention with adoption of healthy life styles should head the treatment of these patients. We do not have evidence that has demonstrated the superiority of an antihypertensive treatment subgroup over another in the future of cardiovascular events or mortality in the treatment of the patient with MS. However, the use of certain antihypertensive agents could be key due to their influence on IR. Adequate management of insulin sensitizing antidiabetic drugs may also be relevant to neutralize IR and the appearance of type 2 diabetes.