The metabolic syndrome in older persons

The metabolic syndrome is one of several patterns of risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although the concept of the metabolic syndrome has been known for 2 centuries or more, it is only recently that its individual components have been proposed. Visceral obesity is a central component but other major facets such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or dysglycemia are often present. These components are well-established cardiovascular risk factors and therefore grouping them under a single entity, namely the metabolic syndrome, has questioned its clinical usefulness and its ability to predict cardiovascular disease. Depending on what criteria are used, the prevalence of this syndrome may be as much as 40% in those aged 60 years and older. Heredity, environmental factors, personal lifestyle habits and behavior, and clinical comorbidities all seem to be associated with the metabolic syndrome. In addition, hypogonadism in men and hypovitaminosis D are age-related issues associated with the metabolic syndrome. In ageing individuals the existence of the metabolic syndrome as a distinct entity is questioned although some studies report an association with diabetes mellitus, physical impairments, and cognitive dysfunction. Further studies that explore these factors over time are needed but for now, treatment remains focused on individual components and not on the syndrome as a whole.