Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults : A hospital-based study

The constellation of dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia and a low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and central obesity is identified now as metabolic syndrome, also called syndrome X.1,2 People with the syndrome are about twice as likely to develop cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and over four times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with subjects who do not have metabolic syndrome.3 While this syndrome may have a genetic basis,4,5 environmental factors are important modifiable risk factors for the condition. In Chuang’s report from Taiwan, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 9.5% (10.6% in men and 8.1% in women) based on the strict NCEP III criteria, and 12.9% (15.5% in men and 10.5% in women, respectively) by the Asian criteria for waist circumference.6 To further assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan, we gathered and analyzed data on all adults who came to the China Medical University Hospital in Taichung for preventive services from January to December in 2004.