Sex, menopause, metabolic syndrome, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality--cohort analysis from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the mortality risk associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) for participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


METHODS
The study analyzed mortality data from 1364 men and 1321 women aged 40 yr and older based on their MetS status defined by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Subjects initially using insulin, oral hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, or lipid-lowering medications were excluded.


METHODS
All-cause, cardiovascular, cardiac, and noncardiovascular mortality were obtained from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-linked mortality follow-up file through December 31, 2000.


RESULTS
The prevalence of MetS was 33 and 29% for men and women, respectively. In the male subjects, there was no significant association between MetS and mortality. In the women, MetS was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29-2.64, P = 0.001], cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.21-3.17, P = 0.007), cardiac mortality (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.15-3.09, P = 0.01), and noncardiovascular mortality (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.13-2.87, P = 0.01). The HR was stronger when postmenopausal women were analyzed separately and became nonsignificant in the premenopausal cohort. The sex-specific HR remained unchanged, regardless of the MetS criteria used or the inclusion of actively treated subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
MetS poses a significant increase in mortality risk through an observation period as long as 12 yr, primarily in postmenopausal women, that is not apparent in men and premenopausal women. Sex is an important effect modifier of all-cause and cause-specific death.
Cardiovascular Center and Health Management Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Dou-Liou City, Taiwan 640.
Jou-Wei
JW
Lin
James L
JL
Caffrey
Man-Huei
MH
Chang
Yu-Sheng
YS
Lin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology