Epidemiological aspects of metabolic syndrome

During 15 years criteria of metabolic syndrome has undergone definite changes. According to Adult Treatment Panel III of National Cholesterol Education Program metabolic syndrome is diagnosed in the presence of 3 of 5 following signs: waist circumference greater than or equal to102 or greater than or equal to88 cm in men and women, respectively; triglycerides greater than or equal to150 mg/dl, high density lipoprotein cholesterol <39 mg/dl; blood pressure >= 130/85 mm Hg and fasting blood glucose >= 110 mg/dl. Metabolic syndrome is widely spread in populations. Its prevalence ranges from 10.6% in China to 24% in USA and is closely related to life style and age. In a cohort of subjects with history of hypertension at least 5 years and diabetes type 2 metabolic syndrome was found in 64 and 88%, respectively. Metabolic syndrome has rather high atherogenic potential and is associated with incidence of ischemic heart disease 2.6-3.0, ischemic heart disease mortality - 2.9-4.2, total mortality - 1.9-2.1 times higher compared with other diseases.