title: The metabolic syndrome and high C-reactive protein: prevalence and differences by sex in a southern-European population-based cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in a population-based cohort, and to analyse the association between gender, environmental conditions, C-reactive protein (CRP), and the syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 1877 subjects aged 45-64, who represented all the patients of six family physicians, representative of the sanitary districts of Asti (north-western Italy), 88% accepted to participate in an interview on personal habits, and several clinical and laboratory measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MS (National Cholesterol Education Program criteria) was present in 24% of males and 22% of females. Males had a significantly higher percentage of hyperglycaemia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, whereas females had a higher prevalence of central obesity and low HDL-cholesterol. In a multiple logistic regression model, the MS was significantly associated with increasing age, BMI, and >30 g/day alcohol intake (OR = 1.42; 95% CI 1.27-1.58), and negatively to higher education level (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.28-0.99) and moderate exercise (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.57-0.76). CRP levels are highly correlated to BMI and the components of the syndrome. The association between CRP and the MS remains significant in women only, in a multivariate analysis, after multiple adjustments (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.42-2.11). Higher CRP levels, correlated to smoking and, inversely, to alcohol intake, identify a further 12% of the cohort at higher cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MS affects more than 20% of this middle-aged cohort, but more than 30%, with higher CRP levels are at high cardiovascular risk. Healthier lifestyle habits are inversely associated with the MS and CRP levels, suggesting the need for strategies and their implementation in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Italy. sbo@molinette.piemonte.it
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Giovannino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccone
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benini
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dusio
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forastiere
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassader
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franco Pagano
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein