Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and gender differences

In a comparative study, involving 500 subjects with 294 males and 206 females aged 30 years and above, data were collected from NIMS (National Institute of Medical Sciences) hospital and research centre and controls from the general population whose age and sex were matched with subjects during the years 2010 - 2011. Metabolic syndrome was present both in women and men corresponding to 29% and 23% of the women's and men's sample, respectively. The prevalence was higher in women than in men. In women, elevated BMI, low HDL cholesterol, increased waist circumference and hyperglycemia were significantly larger contributors to the metabolic syndrome while in men these were hypertension and elevated triglycerides. The contribution of several metabolic components to the metabolic syndrome is different in men and women. This might contribute to gender specific differences in the relative risk of metabolic complications such as insulin resistance.