General Aspects of Metabolic Syndrome: An Update on Diagnostic Criteria, Pathophysiology, and Management

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is generally defined as a cluster/complex of factors that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), including hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased HDL-cholesterol concentration and central obesity. MetS is a health problem whose prevalence is increasing worldwide and negatively affects people's lives. Although MetS is essentially insulin resistance (IR), is not considered a disease, it consists of a combination of many risk factors that force the body metabolism to work abnormally. In addition to factors such as sedentary lifestyle and nutrition, hereditary factors are also important in the formation of MetS. The main components of MetS can be listed as hyperglycemia, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. MetS has different definitions for different organizations. The basic components of these definitions are waist circumference, IR, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride, low HDL cholesterol). The most recently agreed upon diagnostic criteria for MetS are increased waist circumference (society and country specific), high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure and high fasting blood glucose. For diagnosis, the presence of at least 3 of these parameters is required. When countries are examined in terms of the prevalence of MetS, different results are obtained from each country. The most important factor affecting the incidence of MetS in a country is the percentage of obesity and abdominal obesity in that country. Although obesity and physical activity factors have an impact on the incidence of MetS, it is an undeniable fact that genetic factors also have a significant impact. Lifestyle changes are at the core of MetS treatment. People with this syndrome need to change their diet, increase their physical activity and lose weight. Determining MetS risk levels and predisposing risk factors, determining whether they meet diagnostic criteria, and raising awareness through education and consultancy activities will be effective in combating the prevalence of MetS and cardiovascular risk factors. 

Keywords: Diagnostic criteria, Metabolic syndrome, Management, Pathophysiology.