Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in the San Juan Metropolitan Area of Puerto Rico

The metabolic syndrome has been associated with an excess risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The extent to which the metabolic syndrome distributes in the adult population of Puerto Rico is unknown. A household probability sample of 866 adults (21-79 years) living in the San Juan Metropolitan Area was designed to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components. All subjects completed a face-to-face interview followed by an evaluation that consisted of blood pressure and waist circumference measurements and blood sampling. The modified NCEP-ATP III criteria was used to define the metabolic syndrome as three or more of the following components: elevated waist circumference (≥40 inches in men and ≥35 in women), elevated triglycerides (≥150 mg/dL), reduced HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women), elevated blood pressure (≥130/≥85 mm Hg), and elevated fasting glucose (≥100 mg/dL). A weighted logistic regression model was used to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components. Weighted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 38.2% (95% CI: 34.5%-42.0%); the weighted prevalence of the individual components was as follows: elevated waist circumference (49.0%), elevated glucose (48.7%), elevated triglycerides (31.2%), low HDL-C (45.6%), and hypertension (30.8%). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increased with age and was similar among men and women. The present study provides evidence of the burden of the metabolic syndrome in a homogeneous Hispanic population. Early identification in this population might prevent further increase in the morbidity and mortality associated with the metabolic syndrome.