[Identification and clinical use of the Metabolic Syndrome]

The Metabolic Syndrome is characterised by the following components: atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, elevated glucose and abdominal obesity. 22% of 415 patients of an outpatient clinic in internal medicine fulfilled the criteria of a Metabolic Syndrome. The most common components were abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure and elevated triglyceride. Only one in five treating physicians diagnosed a Metabolic Syndrome. Our data show that the concept of the Metabolic Syndrome has limited utility in clinical practice.