Prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population – Korean National Health Insurance Corporation Survey 2008

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Abstract
Aim: To determine the factors affecting the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in younger and older Koreans.Background: Metabolic syndrome, in combination with other, interrelated predisposing factors, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In Korea, the prevalence of this syndrome, like those of other chronic diseases, has increased continually in recent years.Design: This is an analytic, descriptive cross‐sectional study.Methods: This survey targeted 690,283 examinees that had undergone a medical examination on a life transition period performed by the National Health Insurance Corporation from January–December 2008. For the purpose of this study, the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the American Heart Association and the Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The relationship between the risk factors and prevalence rate was shown using a multiple logistic regression model.Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 24·8% in the 40 year olds and 40·8% in the 66 year olds. Among the younger adults, the prevalence in women was only 0·57 times that in men. A multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that heavy obesity and family history of cardiovascular disease are the strongest independent predictors of metabolic syndrome among younger and older Koreans.Conclusion: As a management strategy, a nursing intervention strategy for the improvement of lifestyle factors including self‐care through proper diet and exercise should be developed and implemented.