Identifying persons who are insulin resistant is important for preventing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study assesses the ability of the triglyceride to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio to identify Caribbean-born Hispanic black and non-Hispanic black persons with insulin resistance.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a group of adult psychiatric patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies was 28.9% and could represent a pathway to the future development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Screening and continuous monitoring will allow for early intervention and possibly prevention of increased morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.