Metabolic syndrome in urban Asian Indian adults - a population study using modified ATP III criteria

Aims/hypothesis: To determine the prevalence of the Metabolic syndrome (MetS) using modified ATP I I I criteria in urban Asian Indian adults. Methods: 475 subjects (age 20-75 years) from a population data base were studied for the MetS using ATP III criteria but with a modified waist circumference (WC) appropriate for Indians. Presence of greater than or equal to 3 of the following, raised WC (Men greater than or equal to 90 cm, Women 85 cm), triglycerides (TG) greater than or equal to 1.7 mmol/l), HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) < 1.0 mmol/l for men, < 1.3 mmol/l for women, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) greater than or equal to 6.1 mmol/l and blood pressure (1313) greater than or equal to 130/ greater than or equal to 85 mm of Hg, or using BP medication, indicated the MetS. Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) equation. Factor analysis was used to identify clusters of correlated abnormalities. Results: MetS was present in 41.1%. WC was increased in 31.4%,TG in 45.6%, low HDL-C in 65.5%, hypertension in 55.4% and raised FPG 26.7%. MetS was present in 27.9% of subjects with FPG < 6.1 mmol/l and its prevalence increased to > 70% with higher FPG values. MetS was more common in women than in men (46.5 vs. 36.4% chi(2) = 4.6 P = 0.03) and in older people. Four distinct clusters of abnormalities were identified with some gender variations. IR was more prevalent in MetS and was a component of two clusters but it was not a core component in factor analysis. Conclusions: MetS is common in Asian Indians. Its prevalence is age-related, and is more common in women. HOMA-IR or fasting plasma insulin was not a core component of the MetS. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.