Socioeconomic Status and Health Behaviors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Adults over 40 Years

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The most effective means of preventing chronic disease is known to be promoting health behaviors; but this is difficult because health behaviors are associated with the socioeconomic status (SES). SES is a measure of access to material resources and social resources. This study aimed to assess the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and SES after controlling for health behaviors (smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and diet). METHODS: 24,515 participants (8,214 men, 16,301 women) older than 40 years were recruited from the 2004-2008 Korean Health Examinee Cohort. Along with MetS components, SES and health behaviors data were collected through individual interviews. SES was classified into tertiles (high, middle, and low groups) measured by education and house income levels. MetS was defined using the criteria from the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel-lll (NCEP ATP-lll, 2007). RESULTS: Among the study subjects, the prevalences of MetS were 13.8%, 17.4%, and 25.3% in the high, middle, and low SES groups, respectively. After controlling for age and health behaviors, the odds ratios for MetS in the high, middle, and low SES were 1.0, 1.54 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.34-1.76), and 2.01 (95% CI=1.72-2.36), respectively, for women. This association was not seen in men. CONCLUSION: SES was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome, as with health behaviors, but only for women.