Managing 'metabolic syndrome' and multiple risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Risk factors tend to cluster and are shared across common diseases seen in general practice. The 'metabolic syndrome' is a cluster of fasting hyperglycaemia, abdominal adiposity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. This syndrome is associated with both insulin resistance and behaviourally modifiable risk factors such as smoking, physical activity and unhealthy diet.


OBJECTIVE
This article aims to provide pragmatic guidance on conditions that are lifestyle based and present as a number of disease states that require multiple interventions. Management of comorbidity and multiple risk factors is discussed using a case vignette.


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic disease states have common bases and their management is directed toward identifying all the risk factors, establishing absolute risk and intervening sequentially.
Nelson
Mark R
MR
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Victoria. mark.nelson@med.monash.edu.au
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000628:therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors