Metabolic syndrome and prevalence in an urban, medically underserved, community-based population

ProblemThe metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors thought to indicate increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Clinical utility of the metabolic syndrome lies in identifying patients at risk of T2DM and CVD and motivating them to reduce underlying risks. However, there appears to be a paradoxical difference in the incidence and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome when comparing African Americans to other population groups. This study is meant to examine capability of detecting metabolic syndrome among minority individuals in a community-based sample.MethodsRelevant measures were collected from 107 community-members at a community-based event. Means for measures were calculated, as were estimates of the sample likely to have metabolic syndrome based on ATP-III criteria.ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 49.5 years. Various proportions of the sample reflected components of the metabolic syndrome using ATP-III criteria, including high blood pressure (59.6%), elevated waist circumference (49.3%), elevated triglyceride levels (33.7%), elevated fasting blood glucose levels (28.6%) and reduced HDL-C (26.7%). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was considered for 71 (66.35%) of the sample with adequate data; 28.17% presented with three or more of the ATP-III components.ConclusionsThere is a need for a primary prevention intervention among minority community-members. An intensive lifestyle intervention to address all of the metabolic risk factors simultaneously, including an atherogenic diet, weight loss, increased physical activity and smoking cessation is preferable rather than only pharmacologic treatment.