Make Prevention a Priority: Sharing Metabolic Syndrome Program Challenges and Success (bundle)

Presented by: Virginia (Ginny) Dow, RN, BSN, BC, CCRP; Julia Elliott, RD, LDN 

Disclosures: None 

1.0 CEUs: AACVPR, ACSM, AMA, ANCC, AARC, CDR

This session, recorded at the 2025 Annual Meeting, will discuss how individuals with metabolic syndrome are at a 2-fold and 5-fold greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, respectively. This is particularly troubling when considering the steady rise in the number of individuals with metabolic syndrome. Intervening early and supporting individuals with metabolic syndrome can help slow the progression of chronic health conditions, improve health span, and lower the resulting financial burdens at the individual and system wide level. The Emerson Metabolic Syndrome program was created to do precisely this with a multidisciplinary staff delivering tailored lifestyle interventions. The program follows evidence-based practices that leverage a small group model targeting health promotion and behavior change. In addition to reviewing the program's design and implementation considerations, we will review patient experiences, success stories, and troubleshooting considerations. Existing secondary prevention programs should strongly consider adopting a similar model if we wish to make a significant impact on saving a million lives. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Describe criteria and prevalence for metabolic syndrome in both men, women and minorities 
2. Discuss impact of metabolic disease on risk for heart disease and diabetes, in particular microvascular disease, MINOCA, risk of MI 
3. Describe steps to implement a metabolic prevention program in the cardiac rehab setting Discuss metabolic syndrome case studies, patient outcomes , program successes and roadblocks from past 17 years