BMJ  2005;331:1153-1154 (19 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7526.1153

Editorial

Metabolic syndrome

Independently raises cardiovascular risk and should be picked up in primary care

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Metabolic syndrome is characterised by hyper-insulinaemia, low glucose tolerance, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and obesity. This cluster of factors has been recognised for many years, but the syndrome was not formally labelled until Reaven did so in 1988 and suggested that insulin resistance was its central characteristic.¹ Insulin resistance seems to be the main underlying factor leading to the increased risk of mortality from coronary heart disease among people with the syndrome.² Strategies to combat the forecast epidemic of type 2 diabetes and its vascular complications should focus on preventing and intervening early in metabolic syndrome.

Established macrovascular pathology is common when diabetes is diagnosed,³ implying either delayed diagnosis or an atherogenic prediabetic state. The UK prospective diabetes study showed that, once diabetes is diagnosed glycaemia is only modestly related to cardiovascular disease.⁴ Insulin resistance may be the common antecedent of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Any strategy . . . [Full text of this article]

(kk22@le.ac.uk)
Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester LE5 4PW

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Dunkley, A. J, Stone, M. A, Patel, N., Davies, M. J, Khunti, K. (2009). Waist circumference measurement: knowledge, attitudes and barriers in patients and practitioners in a multi-ethnic population. Fam Pract 26: 365-371 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Byrne, P. (2007). Managing the acute psychotic episode. BMJ 334: 686-692 [Full text]  
• (2005). Hit parade. BMJ 331: 1481-1481 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Incorrect characterisation of Framingham risk score

Anthony N Glaser
bmj.com, 18 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Lowering body iron stores in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Luca Mascitelli, et al.
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2005 [Full text]

What risk is relevant?

Matthew P Doogue
bmj.com, 20 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Quiche in our time

Des Spence
bmj.com, 21 Nov 2005 [Full text]

The procoagulant nature of the metabolic syndrome

Arun Natarajan, et al.
bmj.com, 21 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Dietary guidelines for metabolic syndrome need a rethink

Katharine M Morrison
bmj.com, 24 Nov 2005 [Full text]

When will they ever learn ?

Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich
bmj.com, 24 Nov 2005 [Full text]

NAFLD: the hepatic manifestation of insulin resistance

Emily A Johns, et al.
bmj.com, 30 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Metabolic syndrome and catecholamimnes

John A Lee
bmj.com, 15 Dec 2005 [Full text]

Potential impact of metabolic syndrome on liver transplant services

Alastair D Smith
bmj.com, 19 Dec 2005 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>