Diagnosing and treating metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that approximately 22% of adults in the United States have metabolic syndrome, a loosely defined clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, including abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, and insulin resistance. With this syndrome looming as one of the most prevalent diseases of mankind (as well as one of the most preventable), it is imperative that practitioners have a thorough understanding of this condition so that they can effectively diagnose and appropriately manage it in their practices.