Central adiposity determines prevalence differences of the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the expression of the metabolic syndrome in Spain and San Antonio, TX, two populations with major differences regarding their cardiovascular risk profile.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of population-based, epidemiological surveys using the metabolic syndrome definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program. In San Antonio, we limited our analysis to non-Hispanic whites because non-Hispanic whites are largely of European ancestry (n = 1339 in San Antonio and 2947 in Spain)


RESULTS
In men, increased central adiposity was more prevalent in San Antonio than in Spain (29.7 vs. 23.0%, p < 0.0001); in women, it was less prevalent in San Antonio than in Spain (40.2 vs. 66.4%, p < 0.0001). The metabolic syndrome followed that same pattern: more prevalent in men (28.9 vs. 20.8%, p = 0.019) and less in women from San Antonio (27.1 vs. 30.9%, p < 0.0001). In subjects with the metabolic syndrome, most women had increased central adiposity (92.6% in San Antonio and 97.5% in Spain), and most men had either increased central adiposity or blood pressure (99.2% in San Antonio and 95.0% in Spain).


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to men, the metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in Spanish women than in women from San Antonio with differences that mirror differences in central adiposity. Central adiposity and blood pressure may be used to exclude the metabolic syndrome. Considering recent secular trends in obesity, we predict there will be an increase in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in both populations in the coming years.
Lorenzo
Carlos
C
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78284-7873, USA. lorenzo@uthscsa.edu
Serrano-Ríos
Manuel
M
Martínez-Larrad
María T
MT
Gabriel
Rafael
R
Williams
Ken
K
Gómez-Gerique
Juan A
JA
Stern
Michael P
MP
Haffner
Steven M
SM
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol