Which features may indicate metabolic syndrome in a client being assessed?

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome typically include abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, high fasting glucose levels, and dyslipidemia, specifically high triglyceride levels.

In assessing the features indicative of metabolic syndrome, a blood pressure reading of 140/85 mm Hg is significant because it indicates hypertension, which is one of the key components used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. A systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or greater and/or a diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg or greater is one of the established criteria. Thus, this reading meets the threshold for hypertension, contributing to the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

While the waist circumference, fasting glucose, and triglyceride level provided in the other options are important considerations, they do not meet the specific criteria for metabolic syndrome alone. A waist circumference of 34 inches might be concerning but does not independently constitute a diagnosis without exceeding the metabolic syndrome cut-off values specific to gender. A fasting glucose level of 90 mg/dL is within normal limits; typically, a value of 100 mg/dL or greater suggests a problem. Lastly, while a triglyceride level of 160