“Deadly Quartet” or Metabolic Syndrome (also known as: Reavan Syndrome or Syndrome X) refers to the joint occurrence of obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. The dangerous thing about metabolic syndrome is that each disease in itself poses a risk of serious vascular disease – but when these diseases occur in combination, they are exacerbated. The “Deadly Quartet” is the greatest risk factor for atherosclerotic complications and, subsequently, serious vascular disease.
Disease without acute symptoms
The “Deadly Quartet” should be referred to when three of the four cardinal disorders are present. The problem: All of these disorders progress without pain or acute symptoms. For this reason, the doctor is often consulted far too late and treatment often only begins when irreparable damage has already been done.
Yet patients with metabolic syndrome are high-risk patients. For example, a diabetic has the same risk of dying from a heart attack as a patient who has already had one.
Metabolic syndrome: problem with recognition.
Another problem: The development of the individual components of metabolic syndrome varies in terms of timing. Thus, one often sees only the individual disorders, but not the danger of all disorders.
And: If a disease appears, the vessels may already be significantly damaged. Thus, only the tip of the iceberg is ever seen. One example: Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease often appear late in the process.
Metabolic syndrome and its causes
The most important causes of atherosclerosis are, in addition to high blood pressure, a hereditary predisposition, poor diet and associated obesity and lipid metabolism disorders, but also metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and its precursor, insulin resistance. Obesity often plays a decisive role as a pacemaker.
Very important is an early and appropriate treatment of each individual disease, as well as a change in lifestyle.
Definition of metabolic syndrome according to WHO.
- Obesity >88 cm waist circumference in women, >102 cm waist circumference in men.
- HDL cholesterol <50 mg% women, <40 mg% men.
- Triglycerides > 150 mg%
- Blood pressure > 130/85 mmHg
- Fasting blood glucose > 110 mg%
