Metabolic syndrome ups heart failure later

Published: May 22, 2006 at 5:06 PM

UPPSALA, Sweden, May 22 (UPI) -- Metabolic syndrome significantly boosts the chances of heart failure in middle age, suggests a study by researchers in Sweden.

The researchers at the University of Uppsala base their findings on regular monitoring of more than 2,300 men who were age 50 between 1970 and 1974 and who were tracked until the age of 70.

The presence of metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, unfavorable blood fat levels and diabetes -- at the start of the study was strongly associated with the subsequent development of heart failure.

Men with the syndrome were almost twice as likely to develop heart failure as those without, according to the study published in Heart.

The authors suggest that metabolic syndrome may directly affect the heart itself as well as boost the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. The subsequent excess insulin circulating in the blood may excessively enlarge the heart muscle, impairing its capacity, the researchers say.

© 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
COL BKB: Texas 85, Iowa 60 (6 min)
How NYC is trying to prevent diabetes (15 min)
NBA: Portland 122, Chicago 98 (21 min)
NHL: Colorado 5, Philadelphia 4 (38 min)
Study: Phthalates linked to ADHD (41 min)
NFL: Tennessee 20, Houston 17 (44 min)
'Superspreaders' the Achilles' heel of flu
fark
The Public Option, which was alive, then dead, then alive, then dead, then alive, then dead, then...
If you are the person who stole more than 1,000,000 bees, please return them as it is nearly pollination...
Caption President Obama and his staff overlooking a computer
Scottish city declines to sanction official drunken street party for New Year's, since citizens...
Recent immigrants to Canada more likely to be male, younger, better educated, work for smaller companies...
Women with a spare tire are more likely to go all whargarbl as they age. As if heart disease, diabetes,...