Sex Differences in the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and its Diagnostic Components in Korean Adults

Objective: We examined sex differences in the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its diagnostic components among Korean adults. Methods: A total of 17,826 adults (7,061 men, 10,765 women) aged 19+ years with no diagnosed chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia were selected from the 2008-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. MetS was classified by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria with the Asia-Pacific specific cut-off for excessive waist circumference. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex sampling design effect and used appropriate sample weights. Results: The overall prevalence of MetS was slightly higher in men (19.0%) than in women (14.8%). The prevalent diagnostic components were elevated triglycerides (33.2%) in men whereas low HDL-cholesterol (44.9%) and excessive waist circumference (31.3%) in women. The prevalence of MetS increased with age only in women. Women < 60 years had a lower prevalence of MetS than men in the same age category but the prevalence in women surpassed that in men after 60 years. There were differences in common combinations of MetS diagnostic components between men and women. Conclusion: The MetS risk differed by sex in Korean adults and was markedly high in older women. Our findings warrant specific preventive strategies and clinical managements for MetS according to sex, especially for middleaged and elderly women.