Predictors for metabolic syndrome in perimenopausal and postmenopausal Thai women

To determine the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome in perimenopausal and postmenopausal Thai women.

The cross-sectional study was carried out in the Siriraj Menopause Clinic, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, a tertiary-care university hospital, from May 2006 to August 2009. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria for an Asian population, the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria with Asian waist circumference, and the NCEP-ATP III with body mass index cut-off value. The outcome measures were the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome in perimenopausal and postmenopausal Thai women.

There were 971 women classified into perimenopausal (n = 331), naturally postmenopausal (n = 442) and surgically postmenopausal (n = 198) groups. The overall prevalences (95% confidence interval, CI) of metabolic syndrome were 16.0% (15.1-24.3%), 15.9% (13.6-18.2%), and 14.9% (14.0-19.8%) by IDF criteria, modified NCEP-ATP III criteria with Asian waist circumference, and with body mass index cut-off value, respectively. Focusing on the NCEP-ATP III criteria with Asian waist circumference, the prevalence was the highest in the surgically postmenopausal group (19.7%, 95% CI 15.1-24.3%) followed by the perimenopausal (12.4%, 95% CI 9.4-15.4%) and naturally postmenopausal (16.9%, 95% CI 14.0-19.8%) groups, but without statistical significance. The prevalence increased with age, body mass index and family history of cardiovascular disease.

The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in perimenopausal and postmenopausal Thai women is 14.9-16.0%, depending on diagnostic criteria, and its significant predictors include age, body mass index, and family history of cardiovascular disease.