Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to find out the effect of metabolic syndrome on the incidence of stroke, encompassing both cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction.

Methods: The data of National Health Insurance Service in Korea were used. The study subjects (N = 6,972,909) were classified into three stages of metabolic syndrome: Normal group (having 0 metabolic syndrome factors), Pre-metabolic syndrome (Pre-MS) group (having 1–2 metabolic syndrome factors), and metabolic syndrome (MS) group (having 3-5 metabolic syndrome factors), based on their 2009 health examination results. Employing a longitudinal design, the incidence of strokewasmonitored based on the claim data for health insurance from the initial screening date in 2009 until December 31, 2017. The risk of stroke by the metabolic syndrome was analyzed with Cox proportional hazard regression, adjusting for confounding factors such as age, health behaviors, family history, and laboratory values.

Results: The risk of cerebral hemorrhage in the Pre-MS and MSgroupswas elevated by 1.29-fold (95% CI 1.25-1.33) and 1.46-fold (95% CI 1.40-1.52),  respectively, in comparison to the normal group. And the risk of cerebral infarction was amplified by 1.4-fold (95% CI 1.37-1.42) and 1.86-fold (95% CI 1.81-1.90) in the Pre-MS and MS groups, respectively, in comparison to the normal group.

Conclusions: This study establishes metabolic syndrome as a significant risk factor for both cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage. Consequently, the continual implementation of preventive strategies and management of metabolic syndrome such as weight regulation, dietary adjustments, exercise modifications etc. might mitigate stroke risk.