[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in people 20 years old and more. Peru, 2005]

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality in Peruvian population. Metabolic syndrome contributes to this problem. This study aims to determine the prevalence metabolic syndrome (MS) in Peruvian adults.

4053 representative Peruvian adults were evaluated, 2037 women and 2016 men older than 20 years old. Data from socioeconomically issues, clinical and laboratory exam were registered. Blood samples for biochemical analysis were taken from fasted subjects. The economical conditions of subjects were characterized by the unmet basic needs (UBN) method. Worldwide definition from the International diabetes federation (IDF) was considered to determine MS.

The components of the MS on evaluated population was: 65.6% of abdominal obesity, 54.2% of decreased C-HDL, 30% of elevated triglycerides, 19.1% of arterial hypertension and 8% of hyperglycemias. Women show higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (81%, IC95%:77.6 - 85.3) compared with men (48.5%, IC95%: 44.5 - 52.5). The prevalence of MS was 25.8%, being 34.3% in women which is higher (p <0.05) than 16.6% in men.

Abdominal obesity was more prevalent on Peruvian population. The risk of MS on Peruvian population increases gradually with age and decreases while poverty is accentuated.