HIV/AIDS Glossary

A combination of risk factors that increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a person must have at least three of the following metabolic risk factors: high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or high fasting blood sugar levels. Use of some antiretroviral (ARV) drugs may cause or worsen risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome.