title: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in turkmen ethnic groups in gorgan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been estimated that the metabolic syndrome may predict cardiovascular disease and the occurrence of sudden death, independent of the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic syndrome among Turkmen women in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study consisted of 160 Turkmen women. Baseline data and prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the components of metabolic syndrome in Turkmen women were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of high levels of fasting glucose, low levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high waist circumference and high blood pressure were shown to be 29.37%, 70.62%, 35.62%, 75% and 26.25%, respectively. It was shown that high waist circumference (75%) and Low HDL-cholesterol levels (70.62%) were the most frequent characteristics in comparison to other metabolic components. The prevalence of high waist circumference, high triglyceride levels, high levels of fasting glucose, high blood pressure and BMIs which were ≥25 were higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome (92.85%, 73.21%, 73.21%, 57.14% and 83.92%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic syndrome is more prevalent among Turkmen women. Our data has shown that the prevalence of abnormal waist circumference in this ethnic group was highest. The waist circumference can be used as a predictor for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, Iran .
authors.forename: Najmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahini
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shahini
authors.forename: Abdoljalal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marjani
keywords: Gorgan; Metabolic syndrome; Turkmen