title: Effects of smoking, alcohol, exercise, education, and family history on the metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although several environmental factors are known to have diverse effects on the development of the metabolic syndrome, few studies have examined their relevance to Asians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We gathered data from 4341 subjects on smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, family history and education level by a self-administered questionnaire. The components of the metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III report were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of hypertriglyceridemia was 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.8) and of low HDL-C was 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.6) in subjects who smoked more than 20 pack-years compared to nonsmokers. The relative risk of developing the metabolic syndrome in smokers (more than 20 pack-years) was 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.7) compared to nonsmokers. Alcohol consumption had a protective effect against low HDL-C (adjusted OR 0.6-0.2). The relative risk of the metabolic syndrome was 1.7 (95% CI 0.9-2.8) for lack of exercise, 1.5 (95% CI 1.1-2.1) for a positive family history and 2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.4) in those with no or an elementary school education versus university graduation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since subjects with a low education level and a family history had an elevated risk for the metabolic syndrome and thus for developing cardiovascular disease, particular attention should be paid to these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, # 108 Pyung-Dong, Jongro-Gu, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea. drlwy@samsung.co.kr
authors.forename: Won-Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chan-Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jeong-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Sun-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids