Abstract The metabolic syndrome (MetS) has surpassed smoking as the number one cause of cardiovascular deaths in the US. However, it remains under diagnosed and misunderstood in primary care. To test this hypothesis a chart review was done to calculate the prevalence of patients assigned to residents diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome. This number was then compared to the estimated national average which according to the International Diabetes Federation the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is 24%. Background The World Health Organization (WHO) first developed the definition of metabolic syndrome in The central features of the metabolic syndrome are insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, atherogenic dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction 1. Metabolic syndrome ties together insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia and hypertension, which are known to be interrelated. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) 2 definition, metabolic syndrome is present if three or more of the following five criteria are met: see table 1. Proper identification of the metabolic syndrome helps clinicians incorporate key recommendations proven the help decrease mortality and morbidity from metabolic syndrome. Patients that are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, or have some of the clinical criteria, carry a significant risk for a variety of chronic diseases. Patients with metabolic syndrome are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease and five times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes 3, 4. Currently metabolic syndrome affects 24% of adult patients in the US and the incidence increases with age 5. The proposed pathologic origin of the metabolic syndrome is the visceral adiposity. The adipose cells gathered at the waist line act as a rogue endocrine gland producing inflammatory chemicals and ignoring feedback loops. This results in a constant mild state of inflammation that damages blood vessels, increases insulin resistance, and leads to more cytokine release. The inflammatory state leads to a cascade of unfortunate events that include myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and even prostate, pancreatic and colon cancer. Table 1. NCEP-ATP III 3/5 Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome Results Conclusion MetS was found to be prevalent at only 0.93% of over 4600 patient charts. When compared to an estimated national prevalence of 24% this study shows MetS remains under diagnosed in primary care. Recommendations Residencies should start to teach about the clinical criteria for MetS. Applying the NCEP-ATP III criteria to a patient panel can aid in identifying patients with Mets. This can result in early identification of patients that are highly likely to have an adverse cardiovascular event and develop type 2 diabetes. In the future guidelines for Mets can be applied to these patients and prevent stroke and heart attack. The Metabolic Syndrome Under Diagnosed in Primary Care Katherine Hurst MSc, MD and Krishna Khanal MD Cedar Rapids Medical Education Foundation and Linn Community Care Cedar Rapids, Iowa Objectives 1.Calculate the prevalence of MetS in a practice that patients are under resident care in urban Iowa. 2.Compare this to the MetS prevalence national average of 24% 5 3.Increase awareness of the prevalence of MetS in primary care 4.Increase understanding of the MetS in primary care. 5.Incorporate MetS teaching into curriculum at postgraduate medical education Methods This a retrospective study done using an electronic chart review. Patient charts assigned to residents were reviewed. The residency uses Logician electronic medical record software. There are 3 teams and each resident’s patient panel was reviewed by using report tab on software. Boolean logic criteria were current ICD diagnosis code for MetS and patients over age eighteen. Analysis In this study the prevalence was calculated using this equation: Number of patients with a disease/total number of patients over age 18 assigned to residents The prevalence is expressed as a percentage. Total Number of patients 4613 Number of Patients with MetS as diagnosis ICD code Prevalence of MetS in resident patient panel0.93% US National Prevalence according to International Diabetes Federation 24% waist circumference>40 inches (men), 35 inches (women) blood pressure>130/85 mmHg fasting triglyceride level>150 mg/dl fasting HDL cholesterol level<40 mg/dl (men) or 50 mg/dl (women) fasting blood sugar>100 mg/dl References 1.Alberti KG, Zimmet PZ. Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. 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