Relationship between age and metabolic disorders in the population of Bali

Background/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between age and metabolic disorders in the population of Bali. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on metabolic syndrome (MS) as defined on the basis of recommended parameters for diagnosis of the syndrome in the population of seven villages of Bali comprising six villages and one suburban area. At least three of the five parameters must be present for the diagnosis. Three hundred ten elderly people aged 60 years or more, with a male: female ratio of 168: 142, of 1840 subjects were recruited in the study. The criteria for obesity were based on the 2000 World Health Organization recommendations for Asia Pacific population, for prediabetes [impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance] and diabetes mellitus (DM) by American Diabetes Association (2009), and for MS by a joint statement of International Diabetes Federation, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, International Atherosclerosis Society, and International Association for the Study of Obesity (2009). Results: The prevalence of IFG and DM were twofold in the elderly as compared with those in the younger-aged groups (21.4 vs. 11.7; 11.7 vs. 4.8, respectively). Blood pressure and fasting blood sugar levels were higher in the elderly than in the younger-aged group (133/81 mmHg vs. 117/76 mmHg; 102.7 mg/dL vs. 93.0 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels between both groups. Waist circumferences were lower among the elderly than among younger-aged groups (75.8 cm vs. 80.9 cm; p < 0.001). The elderly, with lower waist circumference, revealed significantly higher prevalence of MS as compared with the younger-aged group {22.9% vs. 17.3%; p = 0.026; prevalence risk 1.423 [confidence interval (CI) = 1.043-1.944]}. The subjects who had 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 components of MS were 34.6%, 23.8%, 13.0%, 4.3%, and 0.9%, respectively. The prevalence risk of each component of MS for the occurrence of MS were: elevated triglyceride [30.2 (CI = 14.5-63.1)], elevated fasting blood sugar [8.5 (CI = 4.5-15.8)], increased waist circumference [8.1 (CI = 4.3-15.0)], reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [4.4 (CI = 2.4-7.9)], and elevated blood pressure [3.7 (CI = 1.9-7.2)]. Conclusions: It could be inferred that in comparison with the younger-age group, the elderly had higher (twice) prevalence of IFG and DM, lower prevalence of central obesity, but higher prevalence of MS. Old age (60 years and more) had 1.4-fold risk for MS as compared with that in the younger-aged group, and elevated triglyceride levels appeared to be the most important risk factor for MS. (C) 2011, Asia Pacific League of Clinical Gerontology & Geriatrics. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.