Association between sociodemographic factors and metabolic syndrome in Mexican older adults

To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with sociodemographic factors in Mexican older adults (OA).

This study analyzes data from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2016. We incorporated data from 804 participants aged 60 years or older. Information on sex, age, body mass index, scholar level, ethnicity, smoking status, geographic region, socioeconomic status, and alcohol consumption was analyzed. For MetS, the International Diabetes Federation harmonized definition was used. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) between sociodemographic factors and MetS.

The prevalence of MetS was 77.4% (95%CI 72.2,81.9), 71.2% for men, (95%CI 63.2,78.9) and 83.7% for women (95%CI 77.9,88.2). The OA presented higher odds of MetS when they lived with overweight, obesity, and those who had more years of education.

The prevalence of MetS among Mexican OA is substantial. Moreover, individuals living with obesity exhibit a heightened odd of experiencing elevated Fasting Plasma Glucose and high blood pressure. This study provides a comprehensive perspective underscoring the imperative for policies aimed at mitigating obesity and addressing other chronic conditions within this population.