Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and related metabolic traits in an island population of the Adriatic

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome, a constellation of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Epidemiological studies in transitional societies will provide insight into the underlying factors that interact in its manifestation.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, provide a comparative analysis of two metabolic syndrome definitions and assess clustering and association of metabolic traits and cardiovascular diseases in an Adriatic island population.

Subjects and methods: In a cross-sectional study, data on four anthropometric, blood pressure and 11 biochemical traits were obtained from 1430 adults from the island of Hvar.

Results: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 25% and 38.5% based on Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation definitions, respectively. Rates of abdominal obesity, elevated blood glucose and hypertension were high. Among the traits not included in the definitions, levels of LDL, total cholesterol and fibrinogen were markedly elevated. The majority of the phenotypes were significantly associated with the syndrome, the strongest being waist circumference.

Conclusion: The Croatian islanders are characterized by a high prevalence of metabolic abnormalities. Central obesity is the strongest contributor of the syndrome. With a high prevalence of dyslipidemia and pro-inflammatory factors, the population is at substantial risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords::

• Metabolic syndrome
• obesity
• cardiovascular disease
• Adriatic island population

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the following grants: ‘Population Structure of Croatia–Anthropogenic Approach (No. 196-1962766-2751)’, ‘Complex Traits Variation and Health in Children, Adolescents and Centenarians (No. 196-1962766-2747)’, ‘Aging, Changes of Functions of Internal Organs, Working Ability and Biological Ages (No. 196-0342282-0291) funded by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports; ‘Genetics of Metabolic Syndrome in an Island Population (NIH-DK069845) funded by the National Institutes of Health, USA; RK was supported by a training grant fellowship from the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, USA (T32 ES010957).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.