Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the adults of central of areas of Iran (as part of "Isfahan Healthy Heart Study)

Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a kind of metabolic disturbance generally coincident with abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and variation in glucose tolerance test. MS can be a prognostic parameter for fatal diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes Melitus. Different factors affect the prevalence of the disease. In this descriptive study, patients were selected according to ATP III (Adult Treatment Panel). The existence of at least three factors of the following was the criteria for affliction with the disease: (1) abdominal obesity with waist circumference 102 cm in men and 88 cm in woman, (2) hypertriglyceridemia ³150 mg/dL, (3) low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women, (4) blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg, (5) diabetic history and taking anti-glycemic drugs or having fasting blood sugar ≥110 mg/dL, (6) high blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg. The obtained data were statistically analysed through SPSS software at the significant level P<0.05. Then, the frequency distribution of MS factors was determined with regard to age, sex, and habitation. The age-adjusted prevalence of the MS were 25.4% and 21.7% in urban and rural area of Isfahan respectively. MS was higher among the women of Isfahan and central cities compared to men.Its highest frequency was seen in the eldery people (over 60) living in Isfahan villages (68.9%). It was found that approximately 21.9% of Iranian adults living in the central part of Iran suffer from MS. In summary, this study showed an increased risk of MS among middle-aged women in urbun areas which may be due to their insufficient physical activity.. The results indicate that the primary prevention should not only consider biological risk factors, but must also take socio-demographic conditions into account in order to identfy persons of high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.