Health-related quality of life in metabolic syndrome: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to assess the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the general population.


METHODS
We analyzed data for 4463 adults, aged 30 years or older, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005. "EuroQol 5D", which measures two dimensions, the EuroQol 5D index score (EQ-5D) and the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), was used to evaluate HRQOL.


RESULTS
Mean scores for the EQ-5D in both sexes and EQ-VAS in women decreased with increasing number of MS components, and women's means for both scores were significantly lower than men's. In individual domains of HRQOL, men with more MS components tended to have higher odds ratios for decreased self-care, and women had decreased mobility, according to the EQ-5D. In men, high blood pressure led to decreased EQ-5D, and in women, abdominal obesity and high blood pressure did so. Additionally, we found that taking medication had an impact on decreased HRQOL, especially in subjects with impaired fasting glucose.


CONCLUSIONS
HRQOL was negatively associated with the number of MS components and it was decreased by taking hypoglycemic medications. This association differed by gender.
Department of Family Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea.
Sang Shin
SS
Park
Yeong Sook
YS
Yoon
Sang Woo
SW
Oh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors