Metabolic syndrome and its components in men.

AIM: Report metabolic syndrome and its components in men using modified NCEP ATP III criteria.

METHODS: Subjects were al apparently healthy men coming for routine medical examination to the private clinic and Internal Medicine Clinic of Jaury Academic Hospital October 2002 to January 2003 were asked to participate in this study. Complete physical examination was done to all subjects including BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Blood samples were collected after 12 hour fasting for triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol examination as well as oral glucose tolerance test. As proposed by WHO, Asian adult male waist circumference is abnormal if >or= 90 cm. Using modified NCEP ATP III criteria, diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made only if a combination of at least three of the following abnormalities: waist circumference >or= 90 cm, blood pressure >or= 130/ >or= 85 mmHg, triglyceride level >or= 150 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol level < 40 mg/dl, glucose intolerance including imparied fasting glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus were found.

RESULTS: Total number of subjects was 227 men aged between 21-81 years, 127 males (56.4$) fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome. From a total of 151 subjects with waist circumference >or= 90 cm, 112 subjects (79.2%) fulfilled the criteria, and this gave a relative risk of 11.3 times higher to these subjects compared to those with waist circumference < 90 cm (95% CI 5.76-22.16; p< 0.0001). By reducing the waist circumference, 178 subjects were found to have WC >or= 85 cm, and 117 subjects (66.5%) fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy men is common, especially in those with large WC. Waist circumference > 90 cm may be used as screening tool to detect metabolic syndrome in men.