The prevalence and clinical characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean adults / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome as defined by the NCEP-ATP III criteria in middle aged Korean rural people. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 5330 participants (2197 males, 3133 females), over the age 40. Metabolic syndrome according to NCEP-ATP III criteria was defined if three or more of the following criteria were satisfied: 1) Abdominal obesity: Waist circumference (WC) in men > 102 cm and in women > 88 cm. 2) Hypertriglyceridemia: >or= 150 mg/dL. 3) Low HDL cholesterol: or= 130/85 mmHg. 5) High fasting glucose: >or= 110 mg/dL. We also applied WHO-APR (Asian Pacific Region) criteria for abdominal obesity (WC in men > 90 cm and in women > 80 cm) instead of NCEP-ATP III criteria. Insulin resistance was analysed by HOMA-IR. RESULTS: Age-adjusted overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome by NCEP-ATP III criteria was 24.8% (17.6% in men, 30.0% in women). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome for each age group in men was as follows: age 40 through 49 (18.8%), 50 through 59 (17.4%), 60 through 69 (18.3%), and over 70 (14.5%). In women: age 40 through 49 (22.3%), 50 through 59 (32.7%), 60 through 69 (39.9%), and over 70 (39.3%). In men, the prevalence decreased with aging, but not in women with consistent increment. Age-adjusted prevalence of abdominal obesity was 1.6% (men) and 25.3% (women) by NCEP-ATP III criteria, but 22.5% (men) and 55.6% (women) by WHO-APR criteria. Among various components of metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was well correlated with the changing pattern of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Relative risk of metabolic syndrome increased as HOMA-IR and fasting insulin levels did. CONCLUSION: In middle aged Korean adults, metabolic syndrome defined as NCEP-ATP III criteria was strongly correlated to the degree of insulin resistance. The peak age of metabolic syndrome in men was age 40 through 49, and the prevalence decreased with aging. Therefore, early intervention for risk factors of metabolic syndrome might be required in men. On the other hand, prevention for cardiovascular disease will be needed for perimenopausal women due to considerably increased prevalence in the age 50 through 59.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Korean Adults

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and clinical characteristic of the metabolic syndrome of adults, over 40 years old, living in Korea. METHODS: This study was carried out for 2 years, 2003-2004, on total 5, 330 individuals (2, 197 men and 3, 133 women) selected by the stratified random cluster sampling among adults over 40 years old. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on both the NCEP-ATP III criteria and Modified ATP III criteria applying the WHO-APR (Asian Pacific Region) 's abdominal obesity criteria (waist circumference > 90 cm in men, 80 cm in women) instead of NCEP-ATP III criteria. RESULTS: Using NCEP-ATP III criteria, the age-adjusted overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 24.8% (17.6% in men, 30.0% in women). Age-adjusted overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome as defined by modified-ATP III criteria was 34.3% (26.3% in men, 40.1% in women). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome for each age group (40-49, 50-59, 60-69, > or= 70) in men was as follows: 18.8%, 17.4%, 18.3%, 14.5%. In women: 22.3%, 32.7%, 39.9%, 39.3%. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides > or= 1.7 mmol/l) was well correlated with the changing pattern of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome both in men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The peak age of metabolic syndrome in men was age 40 through 49, and the prevalence decreased with aging. Therefore, early intervention for risk factors of metabolic syndrome might be required in men. On the other hand, prevention for cardiovascular disease will be needed for perimenopausal women due to considerably increased prevalence in the age 50 through 59.