The metabolic syndrome: Prevalence and association to leisure-time and work-related physical activity in 60-year-old men and women

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases, 2007-06, Vol.17 (5), p.349-357
• Main Authors: Halldin, M, Rosell, M, de Faire, U, Hellénius, M.-L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cross-sectional study; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Life Style; Lifestyle; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; Lipids - blood; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Physical activity; Physical Fitness - physiology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sweden - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2006.01.002

Abstract Background and aim This study examined the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its association to lifestyle factors in 60-year-old men and women, with special emphasis on physical activity (PA). Methods and results Every third 60-year-old man and woman in the Stockholm County, Sweden, was invited to a survey of cardiovascular risk factors. Seventy-seven percent of the sample, 4228 individuals, agreed to participate (2036 men and 2192 women). Participants underwent physical examination and laboratory tests, and completed a questionnaire. After excluding 364 subjects suffering from cardiovascular disease and/or cancer, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 24% and 19% in men and women, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio for having the metabolic syndrome in the high leisure-time PA group was 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.22–0.51) using the low leisure-time PA group as reference. However, no such inverse association was noted for work-related PA. Conclusions This cross-sectional survey of 60-year-old men and women demonstrates a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The robust inverse dose–response relationship between leisure-time PA and the metabolic syndrome emphasises the role of PA in the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome.