Introduction Metabolic syndrome has been garnering more attention lately among healthcare professionals, but it remains underrecognized for a relatively common condition. Metabolic syndrome is a condition that comprises a clustering of risk factors, including48: Abdominal obesity Atherogenic dyslipidemia Raised blood pressure Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance Prothrombotic state (eg, increased fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 blood level) Proinflammatory state (eg, elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood level) A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made by the presence of 3 of the 5 risk factors shown in Table 8.85 Table 8. Risk Factors Used for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome85   *Overweight and obesity are associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. However, the presence of abdominal obesity is more highly correlated with the metabolic risk factors than is an elevated BMI. Therefore, the simple measure of waist circumference is recommended to identify the body weight component of the metabolic syndrome.  +The American Diabetes Association has recently established a cutpoint of 100 mg/dL, above which persons have either prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose) or diabetes. This new cutpoint should be applicable for identifying the lower boundary to define an elevated glucose as one criterion for the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Patients with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and they have a 3- to 4.3-fold increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality.49 In the Framingham Heart Study, the presence of metabolic syndrome alone predicted almost 25% of all new-onset CVD.48 Women with metabolic syndrome are generally less active and have lower cardiovascular fitness levels than women without metabolic syndrome.86,87

Diabetes Obesity Metabolic Syndrome Race/Ethnicity Defining Risk in Women Exercise Capacity in Women C-Reactive Protein Atrial Fibrillation Heart Failure Fat Distribution and Heart Disease in Women Fitness Levels Rheumatoid Arthritis Aging