ABSTRACT
Metabolic syndrome is a novel cardiovascular risk factor that has generated widespread interest-and not a little controversy-since its inclusion in the National Cholesterol Education Program’s (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) published in June of 2001.The NCEP lists 5 characteristics for consideration of metabolic syndrome, as shown below. Patients exhibiting at least 3 of these 5 characteristics are said to have metabolic syndrome.
