Burden of Metabolic Syndrome Among a Low-Income Population in China: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a chronic and complex disease associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MetS and its risk factors among middle-aged and older adults in low-income, low-education rural areas with a high incidence of stroke.

Methods

This cross-sectional study of the general population was performed from April 2019 to June 2019 in rural areas of Tianjin, China. All eligible residents aged ≥ 45 years and without active malignant tumors, hepatic failure, and severe renal disease underwent routine medical examinations, which included a questionnaire, physical examination, and routine blood and biochemical tests. The modified International Diabetes Federation criteria for the Asian population was used to identify patients with MetS.

Results

A total of 3175 individuals (44.8% men, 55.2% women) were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of MetS was 52.8%, with higher prevalence in women than in men (62.4%and 40.9%, respectively). Of the five MetS components, high blood pressure and abdominal obesity were the two most prevalent in both women and men, accounting for 89.3% and 62.0%, respectively, followed by elevated fasting plasma glucose, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the following traits to be risk factors for MetS: female sex, self-reported smoking, self-reported snoring, high body mass index, high waist-to-hip ratio, and high serum urate level.

Conclusion

The prevalence of MetS was quite high in rural areas with a low-income, low-education population. Implementing preventive and therapeutic interventions based on these risk factors is essential to prevent metabolic abnormalities.

Keywords:

• metabolic syndrome
• epidemiology
• risk factors
• population-based
• cross-sectional study

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital; this study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided written informed consent.

Acknowledgments

We thank all participants of the Tianjin Brain Study, and local medical care professionals for their valuable contributions.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.