Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its relationship with cardiovascular events, survival and graft function in patients with a kidney transplant

Introduction Metabolic syndrome has a prevalence of between 20% and 65% in transplanted patients. Objective To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome at the time of kidney transplant, and its relationship with the development of cardiovascular events, patient survival, and loss of the graft. Methods A retrospective cohort study that included patients with a kidney transplant between the years 2004 and 2014. An analysis was made of the relationship between metabolic syndrome prior to the transplant and the composite outcome of cardiovascular events, loss of the graft, and death by any cause. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed taking a P<.05 as statistically significant. Results The study included 185 patients. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome at the time of the transplant was 39%. In the univariate analysis, no significant relationship was found between the presence of metabolic syndrome at the time of the transplant and the composite outcome of cardiovascular events, loss of the graft, and death by any cause (RR 1.81, 95% CI; 0.86- 3.82, P=.11). The variables associated with a composite outcome were, diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.62 95% CI; 1.084-12.1, P=.026), and time of kidney transplant (OR = 1.05, 95% CI; 1.007-1.09, P=.36). Conclusions There was no significant relationship between metabolic syndrome at the time of kidney transplant and the development of cardiovascular events, loss of the graft, and death by any cause. This could be related to the low incidence of events in the population studied and the follow-up time.