The metabolic syndrome, depression, and cardiovascular disease: interrelated conditions that share pathophysiologic mechanisms.
This article introduces the metabolic syndrome as a clinical phenotype with consequences for diagnosis and treatment that go beyond the different clinical specialties involved. A life-course approach is suggested as a means of understanding the complex interrelations between the metabolic syndrome, depression, and cardiovascular disease. Pathophysiologic mechanisms that these conditions share are discussed in detail. These considerations provide arguments for a more integrative approach to patients in general that surpass the current disease-centered services such as endocrinology, psychiatry, and cardiology.
Gans
Rijk O B
RO
University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.o.b.gans@int.umcg.nl
D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001524:Behavioral Medicine; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment