Prevalence of metabolic syndrome during 2003-2012 among health advise centres clients in Slovakia

Abstract

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) arises from insulin resistance and is accompanied with abnormal adipose deposition and frequently with obesity. The aim of our cross-sectional time trends study was to characterize the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its five risk determinants among the clients of Health Advice Centres of Regional Public Health Authorities in Slovakia during period 2003 - 2012. Methods Prevalence data were estimated in adults and children (≥10 years, N = 79 904) from the nationwide electronic database of Health Advice Centres of Regional Public Health Authorities in Slovak Republic 'Test of healthy heart'. Only first time visitors of the centres were included in the database. SPSS was used for data analysis, arithmetic means and Student´s t-test were used to establish statistical differences based on sex, age and time trends. Results The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 30.2% in males and 26.6% in females, abdominal obesity was confirmed in 48.3% of the male population and 53.9% of females. Increased triglyceride level has higher prevalence among males (33.3%) compared to females (24.2%). Blood pressure (BP) values and fasting glucose values were significantly higher in the male population than comparing to females. We confirmed an increased trend in the age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Abdominal obesity and elevated triglycerides had also increased time trends prevalence in both sexes. The prevalence of people without risk determinants of metabolic syndrome had during following period decreasing trend. A surprising finding is the decrease in the proportion of persons with suboptimal HDL-cholesterol. Conclusions During the period from 2003 - 2012 the results of our large cross-sectional study confirmed unfavourable increasing trends in the age-adjusted prevalence of MetS among the clients of Health Advice Centres and a simultaneous reduction in the number of persons without the presence of MetS risk determinants. Key messages Population study shows highly prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Slovakia. Metabolic syndrome prevalence results are more visible in population considering older age groups and males.