Therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic syndrome

Abstract

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, hypertension, impaired glucose metabolism, and elevated non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level [1]. Due to increasing prevalence and serious clinical implications, MetS constitutes a significant health and social problem. It is therefore not surprising that MetS is of interest to both scientists and clinicians. This fact is reflected in numerous clinical trials and scientific publications. A review of the PubMed database showed that the number of publications on MetS is growing rapidly, reaching over 106,000 publications this year. In the current issue of the Medical Research Journal, as many as four publications concern various treatment strategies for patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome [2–5]. The first one is the rationale and protocol of the DEMETER — SIRIO 11 study that is aimed at comparative evaluation of the effect of two doses of empagliflozin (10 mg vs. 20 mg) on reduction of BMI and HbA1c in patients with MetS. The study is designed as a phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label, investigator-initiated clinical trial with a 6-month follow-up [2]. The second publication is a report of study results aimed to determine whether the volume of the resected part of the stomach correlates with postoperative results after 1-year follow-up. The authors concluded that laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is an efficient method of obesity treatment improving biochemical parameters reflecting glucose and lipid metabolism [3]. The third and fourth publications are letters to the editor discussing the medical treatment of patients with obesity [4, 5]. The scientific activity of clinicians covering issues related to obesity and metabolic syndrome treatment, expressed in numerous publications, reflects the wide interest in this field. Abdominal obesity, with its clinical consequences expressed in metabolic syndrome, is a chronic serious disease that requires long-term treatment. The main limitation of the effectiveness of therapy, as in the case of any chronic disease, is the low level of adherence to therapeutic recommendations [6–10]. Therefore, all activities aimed at supporting cooperation with an obese patient are of key importance for therapy effectiveness [11–17].