The association of the metabolic syndrome with target organ damage : focus on the heart, brain, and central arteries
Introduction: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an adverse metabolic state composed of obesity, hyperglycemia/pre-diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. It substantially increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, and has a huge impact on public health. Area covered: The present review gives an update on the definition and prevalence of MetS, and its impact