[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in health employees]

To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in health employees of a general hospital in Celaya, Guanajuato.

Cross-sectional survey to 200 healthy employees who were selected by labor category: nurses 71 (35 %), general services 66 (33 %), administrative 39 (19.5 %), physicians 12 (6 %) and chiefs of clinical department 12 (6 %). The instrument was used to detect risk factors, evaluate clinically and through laboratory tests. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was done by following the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. A descriptive analysis was carried out.

The study included 142 women (71 %) and 58 men (29 %) with an average age of 41 years (range 19 to 59). The global prevalence of MS was 29.5 % (59 events). Six new cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (3 %), 38 with abnormal fasting glucose (19 %) and 33 with abnormal blood pressure (16.5 %): 23 participants with pre-hypertension, 7 in stage 1 and 3 in stage 2 were detected. Ten employees with MS (21%) tested positive for C-reactive protein.

The prevalence of MS of health employees is above figures reported in the literature for the general population.