The Metabolic Syndrome: The Emperor Needs Some Consistent Clothes
Response to Vinicor and Bowman
- From Outcomes Research & Management, Merck & Co., West Point, Pennsylvania
- Address correspondence to Charles M. Alexander, MD, Outcomes Research & Management, Merck & Co., P.O. Box 4, WP39-170, Sumneytown Pike and Broad Streets, West Point, PA 19486. E-mail: charles_alexander{at}merck.com
Drs. Vinicor and Bowman (1) point to a number of challenges associated with formalizing medical syndromes for clinical and public health purposes in this issue of Diabetes Care. I agree with the issues they raise; it is not yet clear whether the metabolic syndrome is a separate syndrome or simply a collection of commonly recognized cardiovascular risk factors. The current working definitions …
