Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome among Women in Chinese Rural Areas

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is prevalent in recent years but few data is reported in the rural areas in China. The aim of this study was to examine MS prevalence and its risk factors among women in rural China. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Nantong Metabolic Syndrome Study (NMSS), a population based cross-sectional study, was conducted during 2007-2008 in Nantong, China. In person interviews, blood glucose and lipid measurements were completed for 13,505 female participants aged 18-74 years. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the US Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program, the Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) and modified ATPIII for Asian population has determined three criteria of MS. These criteria for MS were used and compared in this study. The prevalence of MS was 22.0%, 16.9% and 23.3% according to IDF, ATPIII and ATPIII-modified criteria, respectively. Levels of agreement of these criteria for MS were above 0.75. We found that vigorous-intensity of occupational physical activity was associated with a low prevalence of MS with OR of 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63-0.91). Rice wine drinkers (alcohol >12.8 g/day) had about 34% low risks of developing MS with OR of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.48-0.91), compared with non-drinkers. Odds ratio of MS was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.15-2.84) in women who smoked more than 20 pack-years, compared to non-smokers. Odds ratio of MS was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.25-1.95) in women who had familial history of diseases, including hypertension, diabetes and stroke, compared to women without familial history of those diseases. CONCLUSION: MS is highly prevalent among women in rural China. Both physical activity and rice wine consumption play a protective role, while family history and smoking are risk factors in MS development. Educational programs should be established for promoting healthy lifestyles and appropriate interventions in rural China

Criteria of metabolic syndrome used in current study.

<p>Criteria of metabolic syndrome used in current study.</p

Association of family history and physical activities with prevalence of MS according to IDF criteria among 13,505 women in rural China, the NMSS during 2007–2008.

a<p>Adjusted for age at interview and BMI.</p>b<p>Adjusted for age at interview, BMI, education level, income status, occupation, ever smoker, ever drinker and tea consumption in family history calculation, additionally adjusted for history of diabetes and CVD in physical activity calculation.</p>c<p>LPA: Leisure-time physical activity.</p>d<p>OPA: Occupational physical activity.</p>e<p>CPA: Commuting physical activity.</p>f<p>Score was sum of LPA, OPA, CPA by bicycle, walking and both walking and taking bus.</p>g<p>P for trend was calculated by entering the ordinal exposure as continuous parameters in the model.</p

Association of alcohol consumption and MS risk.

<p>Legend: Association of metabolic syndrome risk and alcohol intake by all beverage and rice wine among 13,505 women in rural China, the NMSS during 2007–2008.</p