Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in an Adult Urban Population of the West of Iran

• Published in: Experimental diabetes research 2009-01, Vol.2009 (2009), p.1-5
• Main Authors: Dinmohammadi, M., Saeini, M., Mousavinasab, S. N., Sharifi, Faranak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Confidence Intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Distribution; Female; Health aspects; Health Surveys; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Iranians; Male; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic syndrome X; Methods; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2314-6745; 1687-5214; 2314-6753; 1687-5303
• DOI: 10.1155/2009/136501

Objectives. We determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in an urban population of Zanjan, a province located to the west of Tehran. Methods. Randomly selected adults >20 years were studied using stratified sampling. Target study sample was 2941 (1396 males and 1545 females). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using Adult Treatment Panel-III (ATP-III) guidelines when any three of the following were present: central obesity, raised triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure ≥130/≥85 mm Hg, and diabetes or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥100 mg/dl. Results. Metabolic syndrome was present in 697 (23.7%) subjects (CI 95%:22%–25%, P = .001), prevalence was 23.1% in men and 24.4% in women (P : .4). The prevalence increased from 7.5% in the population younger than 30 y to 45.6% in ages more than 50 years. Low HDL was the most common metabolic abnormality in both sexes. Most of those with metabolic syndrome had three components of the syndrome (75.6%), 170 subjects (24.4%) had four and none had five components simultaneously. The prevalence of obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2), hypercholesterolemia (≥200 mg/dl) and high LDL cholesterol (≥130 mg/dl) was greater in the metabolic syndrome group than normal subjects (P = .00). Conclusions. There is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this urban population of the northern west of Iran. Focus of cardiovascular prevention should be undertaken in this area.