Heart Rate Variability in Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It is also associated with insulin resistance (glucose intolerance) and obesity or overweight1,2. According to the International Diabetes Federation, a quarter of the world’s adult population has MetS, and more cases are diagnosed in males over 40 years of age1. MetS occurs when a person has three or more of the following measurements: (1) Abdominal obesity- waist circumference of 40 inches or more in men, and 35 inches or more in women; (2) Triglyceride level of 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or more; HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women;(3) Systolic blood pressure of 130mmHg or greater, or diastolic blood pressure of 85mmHg or greater; and (4) Fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL or greater1,3. There are increased risk for: Atherosclerosis, Peripheral vascular disease, Coronary heart disease,