Do high LDL levels justify for inclusion in metabolic syndrome criteria?

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and high triglyceride (TG) levels. Current guidelines for the criteria used to define MetS include body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) based on the Caucasian population. These parameters seem to differ in the South Asian population. The increased prevalence of MetS and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among South Asians is presented with a lower BMI. Studies have also shown that prevalence of type 2 diabetes is particularly high in South Asians. Patients with hyperlipidaemia are seen in our clinic (with or without MetS). We observed that many patients with hyperlipidaemia presenting with one or two cardiac risk factors were in the process of developing MetS. These patients were at a high risk of CVD as their lipid levels were deranged with very high total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Is it time to take a step further and also include high LDL levels in new MetS criteria for development of CVD?

Keywords

• metabolic syndrome
• asian indians
• small-dense ldl