[Hypertension as a part of metabolic cardiovascular syndrome]

Abstract

Hypertension is only one of several cardiovascular risk factors that tend to cluster. Hypertension is associated with glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, decreased HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides and decreased fibrinolytic activity. One possible link is insulin resistance, which also links hypertension to obesity and diabetes mellitus type II. The authors review the literature and discuss clinical and therapeutic implications in the treatment of hypertension. Since the hypertensive patient may have an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile, a non-pharmacological approach is essential in the treatment. Furthermore, if antihypertensive agents have to be used, metabolic side effects should be monitored closely, since they may reduce the beneficial effects of the blood pressure reduction on the cardiovascular risk profile.