The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among US women of childbearing age.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among US women of childbearing age (18-44 years) has increased since 1988 and to estimate its current prevalence by race/ethnicity and risk that a maternal history of select metabolic syndrome characteristics imposes on offspring.


METHODS
We used survey-specific data analysis methods to examine data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 1988 to 2004.


RESULTS
The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome phenotype and 2 of its clinical correlates significantly increased between 1988 and 2004 (increase for metabolic syndrome phenotype=7.6%, for obesity=13.3%, and for elevated C-reactive protein=10.6%; P < .001 for all 3). Hispanic women were more likely than were White women to possess the phenotype (P = .004). Women who reported that their mothers had been diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to possess the phenotype than those whose mothers had not been so diagnosed (odds ratio=1.9; 95% confidence interval=1.3, 2.8).


CONCLUSIONS
The current trends of metabolic syndrome among women of childbearing age demonstrate the need for additional rigorous investigations regarding its long-term effects in these women and their offspring.
Ramos
Rosemarie G
RG
Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. ramosr@niehs.nih.gov
Olden
Kenneth
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology