Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the middle-aged and older Chinese population

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is rapidly increasing in developing countries. The aim of the study was to provide the latest nationwide estimate on the prevalence of MetS in china. Using a complex, multistage, probability sampling design, a cross-sectional study was performed in a nationally representative sample of 17,708 adults aged 45 years and older from 28 provinces in 2011–2012. MetS was defined by the “Harmonizing the Metabolic Syndrome (HMS),” the guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (modified ATP III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition, respectively. Overall, the age-standardized prevalence of MetS defined by the modified ATP III criteria was 33.7 %, but the prevalence defined by the new HMS and IDF definition significantly increased to 43.4 and 36.2 %, respectively. And prevalence of central obesity was considerably higher (52.1 vs. 24.0 %) with the HMS (or IDF) criteria than with the modified ATP III criteria. The age-standardized prevalence of high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol was 54.1, 57.7, 27.6, and 43.1 %, respectively. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was rapidly increasing in the middle-aged and older Chinese population. We may bear a higher MetS-related burden and underscore the need for strategies aimed at the prevention, detection, and treatment of MetS and special attention should be paid to elderly women population.