Occupation-Related Differences in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 31; no. 9; pp. 1884 - 1885
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Chaparro, Miguel-Angel, Calvo-Bonacho, Eva, González-Quintela, Arturo, Fernández-Labandera, Carlos, Cabrera, Martha, Sáinz, Juan-Carlos, Fernández-Meseguer, Ana, Banegas, José R, Ruilope, Luis-Miguel, Valdivielso, Pedro, Román-García, Javier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Diabetes Association 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Size; Body Weight; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Income; Male; Measurement techniques; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Occupations - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Risk assessment; Sample size; Sex Characteristics; Spain - epidemiology; Studies; White collar workers
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/dc08-0431

OBJECTIVE:--To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Spanish working population and determine how the prevalence varies according to occupation and sex. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--This was a cross-sectional study of 259,014 workers (mean age 36.4 years, range [16-74]; 72.9% male) who underwent a routine medical checkup. The Adult Treatment Panel III (2001) definition for metabolic syndrome was used. RESULTS:--The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 11.6% (95% CI 11.5-11.7) in male subjects and 4.1% (4.0-4.2) in female subjects and increased with age. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome varied in the different categories of occupational activity depending on the sex considered. Among female subjects, the age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in blue-collar than in white-collar workers, but this difference was not evident among male workers. CONCLUSIONS:--The prevalence of metabolic syndrome varies in the different categories of occupational activity in the Spanish working population. This variation also depends on sex.