OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an urban, high risk, predominantly African American hypertensive population. METHODS: The study is part of the NHLBI U01 grant "Baltimore Partnership Programs to Reduce Cardiovascular Disparities". Risk factors for metabolic syndrome were assessed at baseline, and include risk factors of abdominal obesity (BMI °Ý 30), high triglycerides (triglycerides °Ý 150 mg/dL), low HDL cholesterol (HDL < 40 mg/dL in men, or HDL <50 mg/dL in women), elevated blood pressure (BP °Ý 130/85 mmHg), and elevated fasting glucose (blood glucose °Ý 100 mg/dL) ¨C per American Diabetes Association criteria. We assessed the number of patients with risk factors for metabolic syndrome across race (Black vs. White patients) and gender, and compared the average values of above indexes with metabolic syndrome criteria. RESULTS: Out of a total 321 patients, there were 17 white women, 17 white men, 191 black women and 96 black men. By racial and gender groups, 4 White women (23.5%), 7 White men (41.2%), 33 Black women (17.3%) and 28 Black men (29.2%) had 3 or more risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome. On average, study subjects are higher in BMI, blood glucose level, blood pressures and HDL, and lower in triglycerides level when compared with Metabolic Syndrome Criteria. Black patients have higher BMI, systolic blood pressure, and HDL and lower in triglycerides levels than their matched white patients, however blood glucose levels are higher among whites. Women have higher BMI and HDL, and lower blood glucose and triglycerides levels than men. The differences are statistically significant (P CONCLUSION: Risk factors for metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in this urban high risk population. Based on ADA criteria, black patients and women have more risk factors for metabolic syndrome than whites and men, respectively.