metabolic syndrome
Pronunciation: met-uh-BOL-ik SIN-drohm
A cluster of conditions including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Full Definition
Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of interconnected physiological, biochemical, clinical, and metabolic factors that directly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In psychiatric research, metabolic syndrome has gained particular attention due to its high prevalence among patients with severe mental illness, especially those taking antipsychotic medications. The syndrome is typically diagnosed when three or more of the following criteria are present: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose. Certain psychiatric medications, particularly some atypical antipsychotics, can increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome through weight gain, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Monitoring for metabolic parameters is now standard practice in psychiatric clinical trials involving these medications.
Usage
Usage note: No hyphen when used as a noun; ensure distinction from individual metabolic disorders.
In Context
- "The study monitored metabolic syndrome parameters at baseline and every 12 weeks." — Safety monitoring plan
- "Rates of metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in the antipsychotic-treated group." — Safety results