title: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in men and women with alcohol dependence: results from a cross-sectional study during behavioural treatment in a controlled environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in men and women who use alcohol has been inconsistent in the literature. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of MetS in patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence who are currently abstinent in a controlled environment, and in control subjects followed in primary care from a similar region in Northern Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-patient cognitive behavioural therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ninety-seven men and women with alcohol dependence during behavioural treatment in a controlled environment were compared to 1158 subjects from primary care from a similar region in northern Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHBLI) criteria to determine the rate of MetS and each single criterion of MetS in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of MetS was almost twice as high in men and women with alcohol dependence compared to control subjects (30.6% versus 17.0%). With respect to the single criteria, elevations were found for fasting glucose and blood pressure in both genders and for triglycerides in women only. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was higher in men and women with alcohol dependence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate an increased rate of MetS, increased blood pressure and dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in alcohol-dependent patients. Whether high HDL-cholesterol has cardioprotective effects in this context remain doubtful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover, Germany. Kahl.Kai@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Kai G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Greggersen
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cordes
authors.forename: Christoph U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Correll
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ristow
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burow
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Findel
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: Chakrapani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balijepalli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Göres
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lösch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moebus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL