Metabolic syndrome in severely obese patients.

BACKGROUND

The authors assessed the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in patients with a high degree of obesity.

METHODS

A retrospective investigation was planned in a cohort of obese patients with a wide range of body mass index (BMI) referred to a large University Hospital for weight loss.

RESULTS

An increase in prevalence of diabetes and hypertension with increase in the degree of obesity was observed, while the prevalence of dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome appeared to be independent of the BMI values.

CONCLUSION

In severely obese patients a still unknown factor which affects differently glucose and lipid metabolism cannot be excluded.