The metabolic syndrome: a call to action.
Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that enhances the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, has received increasing attention in recent years, especially as the worldwide prevalence of obesity has become better defined. Recent controversy has questioned the scientific basis for metabolic syndrome, but does not negate its value as a description of a common phenotype of patients encountered in clinical practice. Revised and refined diagnostic criteria may be useful for physicians. While more research is needed to understand the pathology of the metabolic syndrome, there is no ambiguity that physicians should treat cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
Gotto
Antonio M
AM
Office of the Dean, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA. amg_editorial@med.cornell.edu
Blackburn
George L
GL
Dailey
George E
GE
Garber
Alan J
AJ
Grundy
Scott M
SM
Sobel
Burton E
BE
Weir
Matthew R
MR
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors