Epidemiologic features of metabolic syndrome in a general Mongolian population.
BACKGROUND
Although cardiovascular health is a crucial problem for Mongolian people, little information about metabolic syndrome, which is well known to be associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, is available in Mongolia. The aim of this study was to observe the epidemiological features of metabolic syndrome in a general Mongolian population.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was performed in 1911 general Mongolian subjects (717 men, 1194 women), who were ≥40 years old and free of ischemic heart disease, by using a dataset from a nationwide population-based cohort study in Mongolia. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by International Diabetes Federation criteria, was determined. Alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and physical activity were evaluated. Education, marital status, income, and occupation were also examined as factors of socioeconomic status (SES). Their association with metabolic syndrome was determined by logistic regression models.


RESULTS
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in women (n=488, 40.6%) than in men (n=138, 19.4%). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high, especially in the Khangai region, in women. Moderate-to-high alcohol consumption was a significantly positively associated factor of metabolic syndrome in men [odds ratio (OR)=2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-3.51; adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.41; 95% CI 1.31-4.44] and widowed status was a significantly positively associated factor of metabolic syndrome in women (OR=1.61, 95% CI 1.18-2.18; AOR=1.49, 95% CI 1.07-2.08).


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic syndrome was prevalent in women compared with men among Mongolian adults. Preventive strategies aimed at men with a higher alcohol consumption and women with widowed status may help reduce metabolic syndrome, thereby improving cardiovascular health conditions in Mongolia.
1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences , Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia .
Tsogzolbaatar
T
Enkh-Oyun
Kazuhiko
K
Kotani
Dambadarjaa
D
Davaalkham
Gombojav
G
Davaa
Ulziibayar
U
Ganchimeg
Dayan
D
Angarmurun
Nanjid
N
Khuderchuluun
Bayartsogt
B
Batzorig
Satoshi
S
Tsuboi
Ryusuke
R
Ae
Yasuko
Y
Aoyama
Yosikazu
Y
Nakamura
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017805:Widowhood