The Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome Did Not Increase in Mexico City Between 1990–1992 and 1997–1999 Despite More Central Obesity

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 28; no. 10; pp. 2480 - 2485
• Main Authors: Lorenzo, Carlos, Williams, Ken, Gonzalez-Villalpando, Clicerio, Haffner, Steven M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01.10.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Care and treatment; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Demographics; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diagnosis; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic syndrome X; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - epidemiology; Other metabolic disorders; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Triglycerides - blood; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Central America; Mexico; America; Mexico City Mexico; Endocrinopathy; Human; Obesity; Prevalence; X Syndrome; Nutrition disorder; Cardiovascular risk; Cardiovascular disease; Metabolic diseases; Epidemiology; Nutritional status; Public health
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.28.10.2480

The Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome Did Not Increase in Mexico City Between 1990–1992 and 1997–1999 Despite More Central Obesity Carlos Lorenzo , MD 1 , Ken Williams , MS 1 , Clicerio Gonzalez-Villalpando , MD 2 and Steven M. Haffner , MD 1 1 Department of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Texas Heath Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 2 Centro de Estudios en Diabetes, Centro de Investigacion en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de la Salud Publica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, American British Cowdray Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico Address correspondencereprint requests to Carlos Lorenzo, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78284-7873. E-mail: lorenzo{at}uthscsa.edu Abstract OBJECTIVE —Trends in the metabolic syndrome might follow trends in obesity. We examined this hypothesis in the Mexico City Diabetes Study (MCDS), a study that showed rising trends in obesity, and the effect of the metabolic syndrome on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Designed as a population-based study, the MCDS enrolled subjects in 1990–1992 ( n = 2,282). Follow-up visits were held in 1993–1995 ( n = 1,764) and 1997–1999 ( n = 1,754). We used the revised metabolic syndrome definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program and the Framingham equations to estimate the 10-year CHD risk. RESULTS —In men, the age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 38.9% in 1990–1992, 43.4% in 1993–1995, and 39.9% in 1997–1999; in women, the prevalences were 65.4, 65.7, and 59.9%, respectively. The prevalence did not change in men ( P = 0.349) between 1990–1992 and 1997–1999, but decreased in women ( P < 0.001). A prevalence increase was demonstrated for elevated waist circumference (men, P < 0.001; women, P < 0.050), elevated fasting glucose value (men and women, P < 0.001), and low HDL cholesterol level (men, P < 0.050; women, P < 0.010); a prevalence decrease was seen for high blood pressure (men and women, P < 0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (men, P < 0.001; women, P < 0.010). CHD risk decreased marginally in men ( P < 0.050) but did not change in women ( P = 0.943). CONCLUSIONS —Neither the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome nor CHD risk has increased in Mexico City. Lower blood pressure and triglyceride values appear to have counteracted increases in central obesity and fasting glucose. CHD, coronary heart disease MCDS, Mexico City Diabetes Study NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Footnotes A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. Accepted June 22, 2005. Received April 19, 2005. DIABETES CARE