Impaired fasting glucose in hypertensive patients: prevalence and cross-sectional analysis of associations with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is frequently present in hypertensive patients and might be induced or aggravated by antihypertensive treatment. However, it is unclear whether IFG is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in this population.

Patients And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in 1,810 hypertensive patients and recorded the presence of IFG, coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischemic stroke.

Diabetes mellitus and cerebrovascular disease: which are the actual data?

Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents an independent risk factor for CeVD. The aim of the present review is to describe the epidemiology of CeVD in patients with DM and to explain how DM and diabetic autonomic neuropathy can increase the risk of CeVD.

Effect of multifactorial treatment on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in metabolic syndrome: a randomised study.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). There is no established treatment for NAFLD.

Aim: To evaluate a multifactorial intervention in the treatment of NAFLD.

Targeting vascular risk in patients with metabolic syndrome but without diabetes.

There are no prospective data on the effect of a multitargeted treatment approach on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction in nondiabetic patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Furthermore, the optimal hypolipidemic drug treatment in these patients remains controversial. In this prospective, randomized, open-label, intention-to-treat, and parallel study, 300 nondiabetic patients with MetS, free of CVD at baseline, were studied for a period of 12 months.

Prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular disease among subjects with the metabolic syndrome with or without diabetes mellitus: the METS-GREECE Multicentre Study.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of vascular disease (coronary heart disease/stroke/peripheral arterial disease) in individuals with the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) with or without diabetes mellitus (DM) when compared with subjects without the MetSyn.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a representative sample of Greek adults (n = 4153), men and women (49% and 51%, respectively), living in urban, semi-urban and rural areas (54%, 25% and 21%, respectively). The National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III definition of the MetSyn was used.

Early benefit from structured care with atorvastatin in patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus.

This is a prospective evaluation of the effect of structured care of dyslipidemia with atorvastatin (strict implementation of guidelines) versus usual care (physician's standard of care) on morbidity and mortality of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). From 1600 consecutive CHD patients randomized to either form of care in the GREek Atorvastatin and CHD Evaluation Study (GREACE), 313 had DM: 161 in the structured care arm and 152 in the usual care arm. All patients were followed up for a mean of 3 years.