title: Community-based study on summer-winter differences of component of metabolic syndrome in Kinmen, Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A community-based study was conducted to investigate summer-winter differences of component of metabolic syndrome in Kinmen, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 8251 residents aged 40 and over were enrolled in the mass survey in Kinmen. They were investigated while on summer (July and August) and winter vacation (January and February) during 2000-2003. Demographics, physical examination findings, lifestyle variables and biochemical data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for age, body mass index, diet, lifestyle and other risk factors for component of metabolic syndrome, there were independent and significant relationships between summer-winter difference and component of metabolic syndrome. Winter season was positively correlated with blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose level, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and waist circumference, but was negatively associated with fasting triglycerides and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Summer season is positively associated with hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and metabolic syndrome. These findings imply that cross-sectional, experimental and cohort studies of component of metabolic syndrome or metabolic syndrome should take season into account as possible confounding effects.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong St., Sec.2, Peitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shui-Hu
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: I-An
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Jen
authors.forename: Shao-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Kuan-Chia
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides