SEQC Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine

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• On November 19, an information tent was set up in the Plaza del Arenal to carry out glycemic and lipid profile analysis for interested citizens, with the collaboration of the Bilbao City Council and leading companies such as Roche and Novartis

• Metabolic syndrome increases the probability of developing type 2 diabetes by five times. Its evolution is, in many cases, silent and is not usually treated early by specialists, becoming a global public health challenge

• The LABCLIN 2024 Congress, which was held from November 20 to 22 in Bilbao, placed special emphasis on personalized and preventive medicine, key areas in addressing the epidemic of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Bilbao, November 13 – The Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQC^ML), the Spanish Association of Medical Biopathology (AEBM-ML) and the Spanish Association of Clinical Laboratories (AEFA) have joined forces in the fight against metabolic syndrome through the health promotion campaign, “Bilbao CardioHealthy, the laboratory takes care of your health”; within the framework of World Diabetes Day and the XVIII National Congress of Clinical Laboratories (LABCLIN 2024). With the collaboration of Bilbao City Council, the Galdakao hospital and leading companies such as Roche and Novartis, a health tent was set up on November 19 in the Plaza del Arenal, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the aim of raising awareness and preventing this condition that affects millions of people around the world.

Metabolic syndrome, characterized by disorders such as central obesity, dyslipidemia (including decreased HDL cholesterol and increased triglycerides), hypertension, and hyperglycemia, has been shown to be a crucial risk factor. According to Dr. Carmen Mar and Dr. Sira Iturrizaga, who are in charge of the laboratory at Galdakao Hospital, statistics show that it increases the probability of developing type 2 diabetes by five times and the probability of suffering from cardiovascular diseases by two to three times. “Despite its seriousness, its evolution is, in many cases, silent and is not usually treated early by specialists, becoming a global public health challenge.”

On the occasion of this campaign, citizens who came to the tent were able to undergo a glycemic and lipid profile analysis, carried out by clinical laboratory professionals with cutting-edge analytical equipment. In addition, they say, personalized advice was offered to those who wished to review their health status, “detecting possible metabolic alterations early and providing recommendations to refer them to a specialist for treatment.”

The initiative is part of the series of events related to the celebration of the LABCLIN 2024 Congress, which is positioned as the most important scientific event in Spain in the field of diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention of diseases. The event, organized by a scientific committee and an organizing committee made up of members of AEBM-ML, AEFA and SEQC^ML, had more than 1,200 participants in this edition, some 1,100 communications, as well as nine symposia, courses and workshops led by renowned speakers, experts recognized throughout the country.

This year, the experts put special emphasis on personalized and preventive medicine, key areas in facing the epidemic of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. "With this initiative, Laboratory Medicine went out into the street to get closer to the population and reinforce the role of clinical laboratory specialists as true promoters of health," summarized Dr. Llompart, president of the organizing committee of the congress.