title: Association of hematological factors with components of the metabolic syndrome in older and younger adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study retrospectively examined the characteristics of metabolic syndrome in an aged population and assessed the risk factors for these subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1332 aged subjects (> or =65 years; mean age 71.0+/-5.0 years) were enrolled from 6903 subjects recruited from the Department of Health Management at Chang Gung Medical Center. Of these 6903 subjects, 1665 (814 females and 851 males) were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Whole body three-dimensional (3- D) laser scanning was employed for anthropometric measurements. Furthermore, health index (HI) was derived by the following equation: HI = (body weight x 2 x waist area) / [body height2 x (breast area + hip area)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 6903 subjects, no significant difference in gender was noted between groups with and without metabolic syndrome (p=0.142). For subjects >64 years, the incidence of metabolic syndrome in females is higher than in males. Subjects are categorized into four groups based on age and whether they had metabolic syndrome. Group A (4402 cases) consists of subjects <65 years old without metabolic syndrome. Group B (836 cases) comprises subjects >64 years old and without metabolic syndrome. Group C (1169 cases) contains subjects <65 years old with metabolic syndrome and group D (496 cases) is composed of subjects >64 years old with metabolic syndrome. Of the aged 1332 subjects, 595 were females (mean age, 70.6+/-4.6 years) and 737 were males (mean age, 71.3+/-5.3years), 37.2% (496/1332) had metabolic syndrome, 19.9% had DM and 21.8% had hypertension. These subjects had decreased BMI with age. Additionally, WHR peaked at an age range of 75-79 years. Of the aged subjects, also overweight, 42.8% and 33.6% were diagnosed with hypertension and DM, respectively; both ratios higher than those for non-overweight subjects (25.3% and 26.2%, respectively). Of the four groups in this study, the ratios for DM, hypertension, and WHR, HI, and LDL levels progressively increased through groups A to D. WBC count differs statistically significantly between these groups. Statistical analysis of WBC count, RBC and hemoglobin (Hb) with different parameters demonstrates significant elevation of WBC counts with the components of metabolic syndrome in aged subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBC count, RBC count and Hb are associated with metabolic syndrome components in younger and old adults of both genders. The incidence of metabolic syndrome marker increased after menopause onset in the female population in this study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Kweishan, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan. einjd@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Jen-Der
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wen-Ko
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Hung-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Feng-Hsuan
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hsiao-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Thu-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies