It is possible to use a web-based protocol to establish a registry for risk stratification and facilitate early intervention.

Objectives. The study aims to determine the cut off level of neck circumference that would correlate with abdominal obesity, using waist circumference as the gold standard; and determine its relationship with metabolic syndrome among high risk filipino patients.Methods. A total of 425 high risk Filipino patients who sought consult at Makati Medical Center from the period of March to October 2010 were qualified to participate in the study. Pertinent history, including blood pressure measurement and anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, neck circumference and waist circumference were recorded; after an 8 hour overnight fast, blood samples were sent for fasting plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.Results. Neck circumference cut off levels of ≥ 40cm for males and ≥ 33.8cm for females showed a low sensitivity and moderately high specificity for determining patients with abdominal obesity; 62.07% and 90.09% for males, 67.59% and 85.56% for females, respectively. In terms of determining patients with metabolic syndrome, it has a low sensitivity and specificity. However, obese by neck circumference cut off levels showed significant association (p value <0.001) with the component risk factors of metabolic syndrome, except for hypertriglyceridemia. Likewise, neck circumference also showed a strong positive linear relationship with waist circumference.Conclusion. Neck circumference showed a strong correlation with abdominal obesity, as well as with the component risk factors of metabolic syndrome, and therefore with risk of cardiovascular disease. Above the NC cut off levels, its predictive value for abdominal obesity is high; however, it has a poor ability to detect patients with abdominal obesity in the general population and therefore, cannot be used as a screening test.

Background: The accuracy and convenience of pen devices for insulin injection have improved quality of life for patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (DM). Prefilled, disposable pens have the advantage of simplicity, with minimal training and attention required and these offer improvements in compliance, freedom and flexibility. Objective: The survey assessed doctor preference in prescribing insulin in a FlexPen™ in diabetes patients in the Philippines under normal clinical practice conditions. The data was based from obser vations on the use of NovoMix® 30 FlexPen™ (Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30). Data was collected from 256 doctors who were specialised in treating patients with diabetes and had their clinics in the Philippines. A Doctor Preference Q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s d e v e l o p e d t o a s s e s s d o c t o r preference in specific terms of ease of learning and teaching use of FlexPen™, time spent for patient training in use of FlexPen™, ease of setting up the required dose of FlexPen™, DoctorÊs satisfaction of shifting from any other device to FlexPen™, confidence that the correct amount of insulin will be injected, feedback about the NovoFine® 30G needles, overall experience with FlexPen™. Results: In total, 256 doctors participated and completed the doctor satisfaction questionnaires. Majority of doctors 62.1% felt learning/ teaching the use of FlexPen™ to the patients was "very easy‰; and 66.8% healthcare professionals (doctor or their staff) spent less than 10 minutes to train the patients on how to use FlexPen™. About 96% doctors responded that it is very easy or easy to set up the required dose and dose correction using FlexPen™. About (98.8%) doctors were confident or very confident that their patients will inject the correct dosage of insulin using FlexPen™. Almost all doctors (98.4%) satisfied or very satisfied about the patient shifting from other insulin devices to FlexPen™; 39.5% doctors rated the design of FlexPen™ as excellent; 55.5% rated it as good; while 74.6% doctors rated the overall experience of FlexPen™ as excellent. Conclusion: The par ticipating doctors showed high degree of acceptance of Flexpen™. The overall experience of Flexpen™ was excellent. K e y w o r d s : D i a b e t e s , p r e-f i l l e d i n s u l i n p e n , Flexpen™.