Update on the metabolic syndrome: Hypertension

The presence of the metabolic syndrome identifies an individual at increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early mortality. However, the increased risk may vary by the absence or presence of hypertension. Current guidelines for the management of high blood pressure in the metabolic syndrome emphasize lifestyle modification as a first-line strategy. Pharmacologic treatment of elevated blood pressure in the metabolic syndrome may be necessary in the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors or to achieve adequate blood pressure control. Currently, there is no consensus as to which antihypertensive therapy should be used to treat hypertension in patients with the metabolic syndrome; it remains unclear whether achieving tight blood pressure control should outweigh the potential for development of glucose intolerance. Future research must focus on this issue given the high prevalence of the syndrome among hypertensive patients and high rates of progression to diabetes among those with the metabolic syndrome.