Manejo integral del paciente hipertenso con síndrome metabólico y diabetes

in the last years an increase in the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome has been observed around the world. causes for this increase are mainly related with sedentarism and inadequate diet. obesity and metabolic syndrome are a primary cause for the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. furthermore, insulin resistance plays a central role in the development of vascular and metabolic alterations associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity: atherogenic dyslipidemia, hypertension, pro-thrombotic and inflammatory states. activation of sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system play a main role in the majority of these alterations. thus, blockade of angiotensin ii actions with aceis or ara ii is an obligatory therapeutical approach for these type of patients. it has to be considered that many patients with multiple risk factors need more than one drug to control hypertension. combination of drugs blocking angiotensin ii with diuretics is the most common combination. however, due to the diabetogenic potential of thiazidic diuretics, this combination is not the most appropriate for hypertensive patients with diabetes, metabolic syndrome or alterations of glucose metabolism. consequently, the combinations of aceis with calcium antagonists has revealed as an interesting alternative combination. accomplish, star and star-let studies, demonstrated important benefits in diabetic patients or in patients with insulin resistance.