Preventing coronary events by optimal control of blood pressure and lipids in patients with the metabolic syndrome

We estimated the coronary heart disease (CHD) events that are preventable by treatment of lipids and blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), a contributor to coronary heart disease (CHD). Among patients aged 30 to 74 years (without diabetes or CHD) in the United States, MetS was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. CHD events over a period of 10 years were estimated by Framingham algorithms. Events that could be prevented by statistically “controlling” blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol to either normal or optimal levels according to national guidelines were calculated. Of 7.5 million men and 9.0 million women aged 30 to 74 years with MetS, approximately 1.5 million men and 0.45 million women, if untreated, developed CHD events in 10 years. In men and women, blood pressure control to normal levels “prevented” 28.1% and 12.5% of CHD events, respectively (p