Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Adults Aged 50 and Above and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study From...

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most important late-life diseases. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of MetS in the elderly population (over 50 years old) of Ardakan, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was from the first phase of the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA). The MetS was defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) definition. All anthropometric data from ACSA were measured and recorded by trained staff. Standard laboratory methods were used to conduct all blood tests. Physical activity was scored based on the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and the quality of sleep was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQI). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associated factors with MetS (α > 0.05).

A total of 5944 older adult participants were entered into this study analysis. The mean age was 62.5 ± 8.0, and 50.5% were female. The prevalence of MetS was 66.81% (95% CI: 65.59-68.00) in this study. Based on the multivariable regression and adjusted odds ratio, six variables of age (OR: 1.05), BMI (OR: 1.19), family history of diabetes (OR: 1.48), hypertension (OR: 1.31), physical activity score (OR: 0.99), and having a fatty liver (OR: 1.71) were associated with having MetS.

The results of this study showed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high in the older population of Iran. Also, the most prevalent MetS component was triglycerides, and HDL was the least prevalent. Hence, based on these findings, tailored interventions seem necessary to control this syndrome in older Iranian populations.