Metabolic syndrome and its risk factors among middle aged population of Iran, a population based study

To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its risk factors in a middle-aged population in Iran.

The sample was 5190 individuals aged 40-64 years participated in the first phase of the Shahroud eye cohort study. Prevalence of MS was determined in terms of the age and sex. Other variables were evaluated by using simple and multiple logistic regression methods.

The prevalence of MS was 10.88% in men, 13.03% in women and 12.14% in total. The prevalence proportion increased with increasing age. In multivariate logistic regression model, age (odds ratio (OR)=1.06), education (OR=0.98) and smoking (OR=0.50), had significant effects on MS. In this model, gender, marital status and economic status had no significant effect on MS. Higher prevalence of obesity and overweight in non-smokers (79.9%) compare to smokers (47.4%, P<0.001), indicated that the association of smoking and MS is confounded.

Despite the low prevalence of MS in this study, older age was associated with increased risk of developing MS and higher education was associated with decreased this risk, therefore health education, changing the lifestyle, and taking greater attention in elderly is needed in order to prevent the MS and its complications.