Age and Sex Differences in the Clustering of Metabolic Syndrome Factors

Abstract

OBJECTIVEThe metabolic syndrome is a general term given to a clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors that may consist of different phenotype combinations. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of the different combinations of factors that make up the metabolic syndrome as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program and to examine their association with all-cause mortality in younger and older men and women.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA total of 2,784 men and 3,240 women from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with public-access mortality data linkage (follow-up = 14.2 ± 0.2 years) were studied.RESULTSMetabolic syndrome was present in 26% of younger (aged ≤65 years) and 55.0% of older (aged >65 years) participants. The most prevalent metabolic syndrome combination was the clustering of high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure in younger men (4.8%) and triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and elevated waist circumference in younger women (4.2%). The presence of all five metabolic syndrome factors was the most common metabolic syndrome combination in both older men (8.0%) and women (9.2%). Variation existed in how metabolic syndrome combinations were associated with mortality. In younger adults, having all five metabolic syndrome factors was most strongly associated with mortality risk, whereas in older men, none of metabolic syndrome combinations were associated with mortality. In older women, having elevated glucose or low HDL as one of the metabolic syndrome components was most strongly associated with mortality risk.CONCLUSIONSMetabolic syndrome is a heterogeneous entity with age and sex variation in component clusters that may have important implications for interpreting the association between metabolic syndrome and mortality risk. Thus, metabolic syndrome used as a whole may mask important differences in assessing health and mortality risk.

Disparities in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and its Components Among University Employees by Age, Gender and Occupation

“…These two observations may be attributed to 'healthy worker effect' as workers with compromised health may choose to leave employment or retire early. Age and gender specific clustering pattern of metabolic risks supports the importance of tailoring nutrition and health intervention strategies to certain groups and not generalizing intervention programmes in the population [15]. Moreover, convincing evidence show that MS component combinations give differing contributions to CVD risks in populations, and between men and women [25].…”

“…However, the crucial basis for developing and implementing nutrition and health interventions in the workplace requires the determination of major CVD risks as well as their distribution patterns [14]. Also, age and sex variation in clustering of risks have important implications for interpreting the association between MS and mortality risk [15]. In China, extensive research on MS prevalence has been carried out on the general population [16,17] however limited data is available on workers.…”

Age Cut-off Point for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome in Northern Adult Iranians: A New Approach in Prevention

“…Some studies evidenced the high prevalence of MetS in the older person (Kotani , 1994;Rosano , 2007). In another study (Kuk & Ardern, 2010) MetS was prevalent twice on the subject of age group >65 years while compared with the subject of age group<25 years. The MetS rate differs with age and gender change (Grundy , 2004;Alberti , 2009).…”

A cross-sectional analysis of the association between age and gender and prescribed minimum benefit chronic disease list conditions among South Africans with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia

“…55,56 These gender differences may contribute towards gender differences in CVD. [57][58][59] Hypothyroidism per se represents a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. [60][61][62][63] Because both metabolic syndrome and hypothyroidism are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease, it is possible that patients suffering from both these disease entities may have a compounded risk.…”