Metabolic syndrome in the Hong Kong community: the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service primary healthcare programme 2001-2002.
BACKGROUND
With recognition of the important role of central obesity in metabolic syndrome (MES), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has proposed a revised definition for MES in early 2005. Information of MES in Chinese by IDF criteria is limited.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional observation survey. A sample of 7,473 subjects (2,660 men and 4,813 women) was examined. They presented voluntarily in the period between August 2001 and September 2002 for health assessment at the three health centres of the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service.


RESULTS
The mean age and standard deviation was 50.4 +/- 10.6 years (range 19-93 years, median 48.0 years). Among them, 30 percent had central obesity, 34 percent had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 20 percent had hypertriglyceridaemia, 47 percent had high blood pressure, and 23 percent had dysglycaemia. The age-standardised percentages of MES by National Cholesterol Education Programme and IDF criteria were 18.3 and 13.9 percent, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MES is not uncommon among the Hong Kong Chinese community. Further studies on the management and prevention of MES are indicated.
Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. gtc_ko@yahoo.com.hk
G T C
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Ko
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Tang
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D011336:Probability; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution