Prevalence and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in Medellin and surrounding municipalities, Colombia, 2008-2010.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS) among adults 25-64years of age from Medellin and surrounding municipalities, Colombia. METHOD: We used 2008-2010 data from the Antioquia STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS), a multi-stage complex cross-sectional survey designed according to World Health Organization guidelines. The revised 2005 International Diabetes Federation definition of MetS was used. RESULTS: There were a total of 3000 participants. Of these, 21.4% had high blood pressure (HBP) and 64% had abdominal obesity (AO). In the subsample with serum data (n=943), 19.8% had high fasting serum glucose, 43.9% had high triglycerides (HTG), and 56.6% had low HDL cholesterol (L-HDL). Among those with data to define MetS (n=901), 41% had MetS. Older age was associated with MetS and all components except L-HDL. Female sex [odds ratio (OR)=2.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.20-3.70], being married (OR=1.40, CI: 1.09-1.82), and high physical activity (OR=0.59, CI: 0.39-0.91) were associated with AO, smoking with HTG (OR=1.76, CI: 1.16-2.67) and L-HDL (OR=1.67, CI: 1.10-2.51) and rural residence with HBP (OR=3.42, CI: 1.83-6.37) and L-HDL (OR=1.18, CI: 1.10-2.51). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MetS and AO was high in this Colombian region. Targeted strategies for promoting healthy behaviors are needed. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.