Sociodemographic risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in a Mediterranean population.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the sociodemographic risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Mediterranean population of Catalonia, Spain.


METHODS
Data from the cross-sectional, population-based 2002-2003 Health Survey of Catalonia were analysed. The survey used a structured questionnaire to collect information on demographics, lifestyle and medical history. In a sub-sample of the original survey population anthropometrics and blood pressure were measured and blood samples were taken to determine HDL cholesterol, TAG and fasting glucose.


METHODS
The analysis included the 1,104 individuals aged 18-74 years from this sub-sample who had complete information on all variables necessary to define MetS using the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.


RESULTS
MetS prevalence was 28.5 % and 24.8 % according to IDF and ATP III criteria, respectively. MetS was significantly (P = 0.05) more common in males than females. MetS prevalence increased significantly (P<0.001) with age and degree of adiposity and as social class decreased. In general, MetS prevalence decreased as physical activity increased, which was significant (P = 0.0253) when applying ATP III criteria. After taking into account important confounders, MetS prevalence was significantly positively associated with male gender, age, BMI, physical inactivity and lower social class. Smoking status, marital status and working situation were not independently associated with MetS.


CONCLUSIONS
Age, sex, degree of adiposity, physical activity and social class are the sociodemographic risk factors independently associated with MetS in this Mediterranean population. Understanding which factors predict MetS is important considering likely increasing MetS trends, and is useful for determining public health strategies.
Buckland
Genevieve
G
Unit of Nutrition, Environment and Cancer, Epidemiological Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.
Salas-Salvadó
Jordi
J
Roure
Eulàlia
E
Bulló
Mònica
M
Serra-Majem
Lluís
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult