The metabolic syndrome and its components in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Background: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (METS) increases significantly after the menopause.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of the METS and its components in postmenopausal women. Factors relating to each of the composing items of the METS were also analyzed.

Methods: Natural postmenopausal women (40–65 years) were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study in order to assess the presence of the METS using modified Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) criteria. Participants were also requested to fill out a general socio-demographic questionnaire.

Results: A total of 204 women were surveyed with a median age of 56 years. A 52.9% presented the METS according to modified ATP-III criteria, with 37.3% presenting hyperglycemia, 51.5% hypertension, 58.3% abdominal obesity, 45.6% high triglyceride levels and 56.4% low HDL-C levels. Women with the METS presented a higher rate of dyslipidemia (high triglyceride and low HDL-C levels), hyperglycemia, hypertension and abdominal obesity than those without the syndrome. Those with abdominal obesity and hyperglycemia significantly displayed higher rates of low HDL-C levels (bivariate analysis). Multiple linear regression analysis found a positive correlation between glucose and triglyceride levels. Systolic blood pressure significantly and positively correlated to age and abdominal circumference. Abdominal circumference displayed an inverse correlation with educational level.

Conclusion: Prevalence of the METS in this postmenopausal female sample was high and associated to metabolic and lipid derangements. As abdominal obesity was significantly associated to lower education, there is an urgent need of implementing educational programs directed to high-risk populations in order to increase awareness of the problem.

• Insulin resistance
• metabolic syndrome
• obesity
• postmenopause
• risk determinants

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the women who participated in this initiative and also Flor A. López, Rita Loja, Cecibel Ramírez, Isabel Naranjo, Clema Casanova, María F. Carpio and Christian Cando-Dumancela for their support.

Source of funding

This research has been supported by the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador, through grant no. SIU-3373-2011 (Omega Women’s Health Project 2011) provided by the Sistema de Investigación y Desarrollo.