The Endocrine Society has released a new clinical practice guideline for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in patients at metabolic risk.
The guideline appears in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) , a publication of The Endocrine Society.
There is growing evidence that many patients who develop cardiovascular disease or diabetes have a pre-existing metabolic risk. This risk includes conditions such as enlarged waist circumference, hypertension, and elevated plasma glucose levels. The presence of three of more such conditions should alert a clinician to a patient at metabolic risk, said Dr. James Rosenzweig, director of diabetes services in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition at Boston Medical Center, and chair of the task force that developed this guideline.
“The dramatic increase in the incidence of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes throughout the developed and developing world requires physicians and other care providers to be aware of the risk factors for these conditions and identify patients at risk in order to initiate treatment,” said Dr. Rosenzweig. “This guideline was developed for just this purpose.”
The guideline recommends that: