Prevalencia del síndrome metabólico en la población urbana de Mucuchíes, Mérida-Venezuela

objective: to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (ms) in the urban population of mucuchíes, estado mérida, venezuela. methods: a representative sample of 109 hispanic men and women subjects, aged 20-65 yr was studied. ms was defined according to national cholesterol education program (necp)/adult treatment panel iii (atp iii) and international diabetes federation (idf) criteria. results: the prevalence of ms was 38% and 43% according to atpiii and idf criteria respectively. eighty percent of population had abnormal body mass index and more than 50% showed abnormal waist circumference (wc). dyslipidemia showed a high frequency of hypertriglyceridemia (56%) and low levels of hdl-c (76%). hypertension was significantly higher in men (p<0,05). impaired fasting glucose was observed in 6% of population, no significant difference related to gender was observed. metabolic syndrome frequency in nonobese subjects was 24% and increased significantly as a function of body mass index showing a maximal frequency of 73% in obese subjects. waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and triglyceride/hdl-c ratio were the main risk factors related with ms diagnosis. conclusions: the prevalence of ms in the urban population of mucuchíes, estado mérida, venezuela is 38% y 43% according to ncep-atpiii and idf criteria respectively. the predominant pattern of ms was characterized by dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity and a low frequency of impaired fasting glucose.