Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among Omani adults

To estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome by age and sex in the Omani population as defined by the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III [ATP III]) of North America.

We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2001 containing a probability random sample of 1,419 Omani adults aged > or =20 years living in the city of Nizwa. The metabolic syndrome, defined by the ATP III, was defined as having three or more of the following abnormalities: waist circumference >102 cm in men and >88 cm in women, serum triglycerides > or =150 mg/dl (1.69 mmol/l), HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dl (1.04 mmol/l) in men and <50 mg/dl (1.29 mmol/l) in women, systolic blood pressure > or =130 mmHg and/or diastolic > or =85 mmHg or on treatment for hypertension, and fasting serum glucose > or =110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l) or on treatment for diabetes.

The age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 21.0%. The crude prevalence was slightly lower (17.0%). The age-adjusted prevalence was 19.5% among men and 23.0% among women (P = 0.236). Low HDL cholesterol was the most common component (75.4%) of the metabolic syndrome among the study population followed by abdominal obesity (24.6%). Abdominal obesity was markedly higher in women (44.3%) than in men (4.7%).

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Oman is similar to that in developed countries. Future prevention and control strategies should not overlook the importance of noncommunicable disease risk factors in rapidly developing countries.