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The metabolic syndrome in women

Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism volume 3, pages 696–704 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is estimated to be present in 47 million US residents with a similar age-adjusted prevalence in men (24%) and women (23%). The consideration of various metabolic risk factors as a single entity in the metabolic syndrome provides clinicians with a tool by which they can identify a population at increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women in the US. To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, efforts have focused on modifying the metabolic risk factors that constitute the metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension. In addition, because of several circumstances specific to women, including pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome, oral contraceptive therapy use, and menopause, there are special considerations regarding risk factor identification, modification, and clinical management. This article provides a review of diagnostic and therapeutic issues that clinicians should consider when caring for women at risk for developing or diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome.

Key Points

  • Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women

  • Metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease risk are clustered in the metabolic syndrome

  • The metabolic syndrome components can be defined differently for women than for men and might have different implications for cardiovascular disease

  • Clinicians should be cognizant of clinical matters specific to women, such as pregnancy and its complications, lactation, polycystic ovary syndrome, the use of hormonal contraceptives, and the menopause, when considering prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome in women

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. and Associate Physician in the Division of Endocrinology, and Hypertension at Brigham and Women's Hospital; K Koruda is a Clinical Research Assistant in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital, R Bentley-Lewis is an Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Diabetes, Diabetes and Hypertension at Brigham and Women's Hospital; EW Seely is Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Director of Clinical Research for the Endocrinology, Boston, MA, USA.,

    Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, Katherine Koruda & Ellen W Seely

  2. K Koruda is a Clinical Research Assistant in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension at Brigham and Women's Hospital,

    Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, Katherine Koruda & Ellen W Seely

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  1. Rhonda Bentley-Lewis
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  2. Katherine Koruda
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  3. Ellen W Seely
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Correspondence to Rhonda Bentley-Lewis.

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Bentley-Lewis, R., Koruda, K. & Seely, E. The metabolic syndrome in women. Nat Rev Endocrinol 3, 696–704 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpendmet0616

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