Metabolic syndrome scientific statement by the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors that are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), type 2 diabetes, and their complications. This constellation consists of 5 metabolic risk factors that together increase the risk for ASCVD. These include atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, elevated glucose, a prothrombotic state, and a proinflammatory state. Atherogenic dyslipidemia consists of elevations of serum total apolipoprotein B (apoB), triglycerides, small particles in low density lipoprotein (LDL), and low levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL). An elevated glucose can be in the range of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), which is called prediabetes, or at the level of diabetes. Available evidence suggests that all of the metabolic risk factors are independently atherogenic. Moreover, individuals with metabolic syndrome, particularly when IFG is present, have a high likelihood of progression to type 2 diabetes.