Vol 9, No 6 (2005)
Original paper
Published online: 2005-12-13
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with essential hypertension - impact of gender
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2005;9(6):458-462.
Abstract
Background Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased
cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study
was to evaluate prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hypertensive
patients with respect to gender.
Material and methods We enrolled 572 patients with essential hypertension (275 females and 297 males). Mean age of the subjects was 53.0 ± 14.6 years (range 18-85 years), and mean body mass index 28.5 ± 5.0 kg/m2. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to ATP III criteria.
Results Abdominal obesity was found in 44,8% of the patients. Central obesity was detected in 50.9% of females and in 39,2% of males (p < 0.05). At least one component of the syndrome, additional to hypertension, was observed in 66% of females and in 75% of male hypertensives (p < 0.01). Metabolic syndrome, defined by the ATP III criteria, was found in 40,5% of the subjects. Metabolic syndrome (at least 3 criteria) was more prevalent in males (45%) than in females (35%) (p < 0.01).
Conclusions 1. In hypertensive patients, prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increased two-fold in comparison to general population. Relative increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hypertensives is greater in male than in female patients.
2. There are gender-specific differences in the prevalence of various components of metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension. While abdominal obesity is more prevalent in females, glucose intolerance, high triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol levels are more frequent in male patients with hypertension.
Material and methods We enrolled 572 patients with essential hypertension (275 females and 297 males). Mean age of the subjects was 53.0 ± 14.6 years (range 18-85 years), and mean body mass index 28.5 ± 5.0 kg/m2. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to ATP III criteria.
Results Abdominal obesity was found in 44,8% of the patients. Central obesity was detected in 50.9% of females and in 39,2% of males (p < 0.05). At least one component of the syndrome, additional to hypertension, was observed in 66% of females and in 75% of male hypertensives (p < 0.01). Metabolic syndrome, defined by the ATP III criteria, was found in 40,5% of the subjects. Metabolic syndrome (at least 3 criteria) was more prevalent in males (45%) than in females (35%) (p < 0.01).
Conclusions 1. In hypertensive patients, prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increased two-fold in comparison to general population. Relative increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hypertensives is greater in male than in female patients.
2. There are gender-specific differences in the prevalence of various components of metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension. While abdominal obesity is more prevalent in females, glucose intolerance, high triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol levels are more frequent in male patients with hypertension.
Keywords: hypertensionobesitygendermetabolic syndrome