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Providence Health Care's Metabolic Syndrome Clinic to be First in Canada
<< BACK | Download Word File Vancouver, January 27, 2006 — Specialists from the provincial Heart Centre at St. Paul's Hospital today announced the creation of Canada's first Metabolic Syndrome Clinic for British Columbians who have a series of risk factors that make them much more likely to develop diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Made possible by a $1.6 million donation from AstraZeneca Canada Inc. to St. Paul's Hospital Foundation, the clinic will focus on helping patients not only understand their risk factors, but also how to take the necessary steps to reduce their chance of developing these chronic, and potentially life-threatening, health conditions. About one in five British Columbian adults have metabolic syndrome, a medical assessment made based on a patient having three out of five defined risk factors. The most important factor is waist circumference – obesity coupled with an apple-shaped body where most of the excess weight is carried in the mid-section. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, two out of four additional risk factors also need to be present: high blood pressure, raised fasting blood sugar levels, a blood fat abnormality called raised triglycerides and reduced HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Each risk factor increases cardiovascular risk, but when several risk factors are combined, the patient is twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease. "We often see the results of unmanaged metabolic syndrome in our Coronary Care Unit when we treat someone who has already suffered a major heart attack," said Dr. Andy Ignaszewski, Medical Director, Heart Function Clinic and Healthy Heart Program. "By helping people change their lifestyle or identifying treatable conditions like blood lipid disorders early enough, it's possible to help people with metabolic syndrome reduce their risk of developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease." "We have significant expertise in cardiovascular risk reduction and lipid management within our Healthy Heart Program and it makes sense to use this to begin a new service for British Columbians," said Dr. Jiri Frohlich, Academic Director, Healthy Heart Lipid Clinic. "As well as patient care and research, the new clinic will focus on developing education and training networks for physicians and health care professionals across the province." "AstraZeneca is proud to support St. Paul's Hospital and the Metabolic Syndrome Clinic to help improve the health of British Columbians," said Mike Cloutier, AstraZeneca's President and CEO. "If we can educate patients about the risks of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease, we'll have greater success in preventing these chronic diseases." "I want to thank AstraZeneca for this very generous donation in support of Canada's first Metabolic Syndrome Clinic," said Carl Roy, President and CEO, Providence Health Care. The consequences of unmanaged metabolic syndrome impact hospital and health care resources as well as patients' lives." The first patient will be seen in the Metabolic Syndrome Clinic this summer. A referral from a family doctor is needed. Background What exactly is metabolic syndrome? The International Diabetes Federation's definition of metabolic syndrome is based on the person having central obesity – waist circumference >94 cm (37 in) for men and >80 cm (31.5 in) for women – plus any two of the following four factors:
Metabolic Syndrome Clinic The Metabolic Syndrome Clinic will be part of the Heart Centre's renowned Healthy Heart Program. The clinic's multi-disciplinary team will focus on specialized patient care, research, and the development of education and training networks. These networks will enable British Columbia's physicians and health care professionals to provide the most effective management of patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients referred to the clinic will be fully investigated to find out more about their risk factors and whether they already have early diabetes or signs of cardiovascular disease. The first line of treatment will be lifestyle therapy focused on healthy eating, exercise and weight loss. However, medical treatment will be initiated when patients do not respond to diet and exercise alone, are found to have risk factors, or pre-existing disease requiring further management. -30- Contact: Gavin Wilson (Providence Health Care) 604-806-8583 (office) 604-667-4367 (media pager) gwilson@providencehealth.bc.ca Liana Del Medico AstraZeneca Canada Inc. 905-804-5819 (office) 416-564-4369 (mobile) liana.delmedico@astrazeneca.com << BACK | Download Word File |
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