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Metabolic syndrome in rheumatological diseases

Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira1, Jozélio Freire de Carvalho, Eloísa Bonfá

  • 1Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. rosamariarp@yahoo.com

Autoimmunity Reviews
|January 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, appears more prevalent in patients with rheumatological diseases like gout and rheumatoid arthritis. This suggests a link between these conditions and increased metabolic syndrome risk.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology and Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Background:

  • Metabolic syndrome is defined by a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and dyslipidemia, which collectively increase cardiovascular morbidity.
  • The interplay between rheumatological diseases and metabolic syndrome is an area of growing clinical interest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review rheumatological diseases where metabolic syndrome prevalence has been investigated.
  • To assess the frequency of metabolic syndrome in specific rheumatological conditions compared to general populations.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of studies examining metabolic syndrome in gout, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Analysis of reported prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome within these patient cohorts.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the studied rheumatological diseases ranged from 14% to 62.8%.
  • A significantly higher frequency of metabolic syndrome was observed in patients with rheumatological diseases compared to control groups.
  • This elevated prevalence suggests a potential influence of either the rheumatological disease itself or its treatment on metabolic syndrome development.

Conclusions:

  • Rheumatological diseases are frequently associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the causal relationship and explore therapeutic strategies for managing metabolic syndrome in these patients.

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