Gender Difference in Association with Socioeconomic Status and Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean is gradually increasing. Metabolic syndrome shows different patterns depending on gender and socioeconomic status. We investigated the differences in incidence of metabolic syndrome according to gender and socioeconomic status using a community cohort of middle-aged Korean. METHODS: The study included 5,544 subjects (2,733 men and 2,811 women) aged 40-69 years without metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or history of cardiovascular disease at baseline. The incidence of metabolic syndrome was estimated according to gender and socioeconomic status, and the association between socioeconomic status and incidence of metabolic syndrome was examined using Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: The incidence density of metabolic syndrome was 53/1,000 person-years in men and 52/1,000 person-years in women during the mean follow-up period of 6.01 years. After adjusting for common risk factors, the hazard ratios (HRs) for metabolic syndrome for those with high, middle, and elementary school education levels compared to the college graduate or higher group (referent) were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.76-1.51), 1.73 (95% CI, 1.23-2.44), and 1.74 (95% CI, 1.23-2.46) in women, respectively, and compared to the more than 400 (10,000 won) group (referent), the HRs for metabolic syndrome according to income level were 1.56 (95% CI, 1.06-2.29), 1.86 (95% CI, 1.28-2.71), and 2.74 (95% CI, 1.87-4.00) in women, respectively. However, the association between socioeconomic status and incidence of metabolic syndrome was not significant in men. CONCLUSION: The association between incident metabolic syndrome and socioeconomic status was significant in middle-aged Korean women.