Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components: findings from a Finnish general population sample and the Diabetes Prevention Study cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in two independent Finnish study cohorts.


METHODS
The prevalence of the MetS by modified World Health Organization criteria was analyzed in different categories of glucose tolerance in a cross-sectional, population-based sample of 2,049 individuals (FINRISK) aged 45-64 years and in 522 participants of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS) with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).


RESULTS
In the FINRISK cohort, the MetS was present in 38.8% of the men and 22.2% of the women. The prevalence was 14.4 and 10.1% in subjects with normal glucose tolerance, 74.0 and 52.2% in subjects with impaired fasting glucose, 84.8 and 65.4% in subjects with IGT, and 91.5 and 82.7% in subjects with type 2 diabetes in men and women, respectively. Among women, the prevalence of the MetS increased with increasing age. In the DPS cohort, the MetS was present in 78.4% of the men and 72.2% of the women with IGT.


CONCLUSIONS
The MetS was extremely common in middle-aged subjects The high prevalence in men was mostly due to their high waist-to-hip ratio. The prevalence of the MetS increased in both sexes with deterioration in glucose regulation. Approximately 75% of the subjects with IGT had the MetS. Because the syndrome includes the major risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular diseases and is the major antecedent for type 2 diabetes, concerted preventive action should be targeted to control all the features of the MetS.
Ilanne-Parikka
Pirjo
P
The Diabetes Center, Kirjoniementie 15, FIN-33680 Tampere, Finland. pirjo.ilanneparikka@diabetes.fi
Eriksson
Johan G
JG
Lindström
Jaana
J
Hämäläinen
Helena
H
Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
Sirkka
S
Laakso
Mauri
M
Louheranta
Anne
A
Mannelin
Marjo
M
Rastas
Merja
M
Salminen
Virpi
V
Aunola
Sirkka
S
Sundvall
Jouko
J
Valle
Timo
T
Lahtela
Jorma
J
Uusitupa
Matti
M
Tuomilehto
Jaakko
J
D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence