Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with diabetes mellitus

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a vascular risk factor with prevalence in the general population of 1725%. Aim To determine the prevalence of MetS in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods A total of 200 patients [18% type 1 (T1DM), 82% type 2 (T2DM)] attending for annual review were studied. Standard blood tests were requested. Blood pressure and waist circumference were measured. Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria for diagnosis of MetS were applied. Results A total of 122 (61%) patients had MetS. More patients with T2DM (69.5%) than TIDM (22.2%) had MetS. Despite treatment of DM (100%), hypertension (69.5%) and dyslipidaemia (48.3%), 114 patients (57%) still met the criteria for MetS at time of study. © Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland 2009.