7 - Epidemiology of the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

The Metabolic Syndrome is associated with a “westernized” lifestyle that globalization of the economies has extended to most populations. In US population ≥20 years, the Metabolic Syndrome is present in 25.2% of men and 29% of women using the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) definition. These results are difficult to compare with those from European studies because of poor methodological standardization. Estimates in European countries are 7 to 36% among men 40-55 years and 5 to 22% among women of the same age using the 1999 World Health Organization definition. The Metabolic Syndrome is common in Latin American countries. It is also frequent in Middle Eastern countries and India, but is relatively less frequent in China. However, Asians have more metabolic abnormalities with the same obesity than do Caucasians. Thus, a modification to the NCEP definition has been proposed for Asian populations recently. The prevalence in men is often different from that in women: in Caucasian and Chinese populations, greater among men; in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Latin American populations, greater among women. Prevalence estimates are also of concern among children and adolescents in developed countries. In summary, the Metabolic Syndrome is a major public health problem in developed and developing countries, men and women, children and adults. The Metabolic Syndrome points at the importance of lifestyle habits and the need for clinical and public health strategies.