Predictive Role of High Blood Pressure for the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of multiple con- comitant cardiovascular and metabolic factors, each one within the high-normal values. Factors considered for the definition of this condition include high levels of systolic/ diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and waist cir- cumference and triglycerides, as well as low levels of low- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In the presence of at least three of these factors in the same individual, the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome can be considered, ac- cording to the diagnostic criteria proposed by current guidelines.