A shifting paradigm in metabolic syndrome; time for a new definition

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex multisystem disorder, including visceral obesity, hypertension, raised fasting glucose and dyslipidaemia, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). MetS has been defined by various organisations with the latest iteration in 2006 and has a varying worldwide prevalence (<10% to 84%). There is increasing data confirming that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) share common underlying pathological features which no doubt add complexity to this syndrome. They are also both independently associated with increased CVD. This editorial discusses recent advances in MetS with an aim to update the current definition and present the importance of a new multi-specialty integrated approach in order to improve patient care.