Evaluation of metabolic syndrome prevalence in semi-rural areas of Central Anatolia, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and clustering of components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in semi-rural areas of Central Anatolia, Turkey.


METHODS
This study was conducted between January and August 2008 on a randomly selected sample of participants from semi-rural settlement areas of the Eskisehir province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. The MetS was diagnosed as the presence of 3, or more risk factors according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Expert Panel Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The MetS prevalence was standardized according to age, and logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors affecting prevalence.


RESULTS
The study group composed of 2,766 people (40.4% male, 59.6% female). The corrected MetS prevalence according to age was 27.6%, with values of 19.4% in males, and 33.2% in females. The prevalence increased with increasing age in both genders. Groups engaged in heavy physical exercise, and smoking showed decreased odds of having MetS, while MetS risk was lower in men who consumed proper amounts of red meat, fruits, and vegetables. In the MetS group, central obesity risk was higher for women, whereas hypertriglyceridemia risk was higher for men. In the non-MetS group, hypertension, and central obesity risks were higher for women, whereas hypertriglyceridemia risk was higher for men.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that MetS is a major problem in the Eskisehir province, and it is imperative that changes in lifestyle be made within this population to reduce the risk factors for the condition.
Arikan
Inci
I
Public Health Department, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Meselik, Eskisehir, Turkey. iciarikan@hotmail.com
Metintas
Selma
S
Kalyoncu
Cemalettin
C
Colak
Omer
O
Arikan
Ufuk
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult