title: [Frequency of the metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese patients in a primary health care facility in northern Mexico].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess the frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MS) among overweight and obese subjects attending a primary health care clinic in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female patients over 20 years of age attending a primary health care setting during April-Sept 2004 were selected to participate in the study. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria (NCEP III).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three-hundred twenty one patients with a mean age 47.9 years were assessed. The MS frequency was 44% for those patients without previous history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension (n = 281). The MS was present in 30% and 53% of overweight and obese patients respectively. Being an older male who had not been born in Baja California State were significantly associated with the presence of MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of MS in a selected group of patients was common and higher than the national prevalence. The high frequency of MS in our study could be associated with a high prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the northwest population of Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Clínica, Hospital General Regional No. 20, IMSS, Tijuana, BC, México. zonanaa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zonana-Nacach
authors.forename: Mario Arturo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castillón-Chapa
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight; D011320:Primary Health Care