[Epidemiological aspects of metabolic syndrome.]

During 15 years criteria of metabolic syndrome has undergone definite changes. According to Adult Treatment Panel III of National Cholesterol Education Program metabolic syndrome is diagnosed in the presence of 3 of 5 following signs: waist circumference>/=102 or small i, Ukrainian88 cm in men and women, respectively; triglycerides small i, Ukrainian150 mg/dl, high density lipoprotein cholesterol <39 mg/dl; blood pressure >/=130/85 mm Hg and fasting blood glucose >/=110 mg/dl. Metabolic syndrome is widely spread in populations. Its prevalence ranges from 10.6% in China to 24% in USA and is closely related to life style and age. In a cohort of subjects with history of hypertension at least 5 years and diabetes type2 metabolic syndrome was found in 64 and 88%, respectively. Metabolic syndrome has rather high atherogenic potential and is associated with incidence of ischemic heart disease 2.6-3.0, ischemic heart disease mortality - 2.9-4.2, total mortality - 1.9-2.1 times higher compared with other diseases.