An increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality is associated with
the metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by the concomitant presence of several
abnormalities, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance
(with or without glucose intolerance or diabetes), microalbuminuria, prothrombotic, and
proinflammatory states. Estimates of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome indicate that
this condition is now common and likely to increase dramatically over the coming decades …