PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What metabolic condition can be diagnosed if 3 out of the 5 criteria are present?

1. Hypertension

2. Diabetes

3. Central obesity

4. Metabolic syndrome

The correct answer is: Metabolic syndrome

A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is established when an individual meets at least three of the five specific criteria defined by various health organizations, such as the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The five criteria typically include: 1. Central obesity (measured by waist circumference) 2. Elevated triglycerides 3. Reduced HDL cholesterol 4. Hypertension (high blood pressure) 5. Elevated fasting glucose levels Metabolic syndrome is a significant condition because it increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, having at least three of these criteria effectively identifies individuals at higher risk, prompting the need for lifestyle modifications or medical intervention to improve health outcomes. The other options listed refer to individual health conditions or risk factors rather than a syndrome defined by multiple criteria. For example, hypertension alone is a separate condition, central obesity is one factor included in the syndrome, and while diabetes may be part of the metabolic syndrome, it does not define it by the criteria in question.