The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged in Kaunas population

Olivija Gustienė, Rimvydas Šlapikas¹, Jūratė Klumbienė², Giedrė Sakalauskienė², Raimondas Kubilius, Sigita Bagdzevičiūtė, Remigijus Žaliūnas

Clinic of Cardiology, ¹Institute of Cardiology, ²Institute for Biomedical Research, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania

Key words: metabolic syndrome, central obesity, risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Summary. Aim. To assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Kaunas population.
Material and methods. A total of 433 (192 males and 241 females, mean age 38.8±0.3 years) asymptomatic individuals have been investigated. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation definition criteria – central obesity (the waist circumference ≥94 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women) plus any two of the following four factors: elevated triglycerides (Tg) (≥1.7 mmol/L), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (<1.0 mmol/L for men and <1.3 mmol/L for women), blood pressure (BP) of 130/85 or higher (systolic pressure >130 mmHg or a diastolic pressure >85 mmHg) or hyperglycemia (≥5.6 mmol/L).

Results. The metabolic syndrome was present in 21.7% (28.1% among males and 16.6% among females) of individuals. Furthermore, 41.1% had an increased waist circumference, 56.4% had elevated BP (130/85 or higher), 31.2% had elevated plasma glucose concentration, 19.9% had low HDL-C cholesterol values and 14.1% had increased Tg values. Significantly higher concentration (1.16 mg/L, α<0,001, β<0.001) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein has been established in individuals with the metabolic syndrome. An increased concentration (>3 mg/L) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was more prevalent (17.3%) in the cohort with metabolic syndrome. Concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein directly correlated with the waist and hips circumference, body mass index, concentration of Tg, glucose and BP.

Conclusions. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Kaunas residents was 22%. Metabolic syndrome and central obesity correlated with elevated concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Moderately (1–3 mg/L) and severely (>3 mg/L) elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels increase the chance of metabolic syndrome by 4.15 and 7.39 times, respectively (p=0,000).

An innovative approach towards cardiovascular risk assessment integrating traditional cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values could improve the risk stratification in asymptomatic middle-aged population.

Correspondence to O. Gustienė, Clinic of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eivenių 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: olivija.gustiene@gmail.com

Received 8 August 2005, accepted 27 September 2005