Metabolic syndrome is associated with venous thromboembolism in the Korean population.

BACKGROUND The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a known risk factor for arterial thromboembolism. Preliminary reports have also suggested the association between MS and venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS AND RESULTS In this case-control study, we investigated the association between MS and VTE in Korean patients. Patients with objectively diagnosed VTE and healthy control subjects underwent clinical assessment for the presence of MS according to the National Cholesterol Education Adult Treatment Panel III criteria modified with body mass index (WHO Asian Pacific Perspective, 2000). The presence of known risk factors for VTE was ascertained. Patients with VTE secondary to cancer were excluded. The prevalence of MS was compared between VTE group and controls. Two hundred eight VTE patients and 300 controls were assessed. VTE was idiopathic in 91 patients and secondary to a known risk factor in 117. The prevalence of MS was significantly higher in VTE patients (47.6%) than in controls (37.7%) (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.05 to 2.15, P=0.026). After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking status, metabolic MS remained independently associated with VTE (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.27, P=0.020). In the subgroup analysis, MS was also independently associated with idiopathic VTE (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.81, P=0.033), but not with secondary VTE (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 0.91 to 2.99, P=0.121). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that high BMI (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.87), decreased HDL cholesterol (OR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.39), and elevated fasting glucose levels (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.35 to 3.94) were associated with idiopathic VTE. CONCLUSION MS is associated with VTE and in particular with idiopathic VTE in the Korean population.