Rationale:
The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a constellation of interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin (MS risk factors) that are strongly influenced by lifestyle.
Objectives:
In this study, we determined the prevalence of MS and its component MS risk factors on entry into a national comprehensive lifestyle management/cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction program (the INTERVENT program) specifically designed to function outside of a formal/traditional cardiac rehabilitation program setting.
Methodology:
Subjects were 20,304 consecutive adult (age = 49 +/- 12 years) males (26.5%) and females (73.5%) who completed an initial evaluation as part of the INTERVENT program. MS risk factors were evaluated using standardized procedures and entered into an electronic medical record. MS and its 5 individual component MS risk factors were defined in accordance with the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines, with the exception that a fasting glucose >=100 mg/dl (rather than >= 110 mg/dl) was used. Electronic medical records were analyzed to categorize MS status as follows: MS present (ie, presence of >=3 MS risk factors), MS absent (ie, definite absence of >=3 MS risk factors), or MS indeterminate (ie, not possible to definitively identify or exclude MS due to incomplete data). In individuals with MS and data on all 5 individual MS risk factors, data were further analyzed to determine the number and percentage of individuals with 3, 4, or 5 MS risk factors and the prevalence of each of the individual MS risk factors.
Results:
Of the study subjects, 89.4 % did not have a diagnosis of known CVD. MS status could be determined in 17,169 (84.6 %) individuals. In these subjects, MS was present in 5,398 (31.4 %) and absent in 11,771 (68.6 %) individuals. Results for individuals (n = 4,641) with MS and data on all 5 MS risk factors are shown in the table.
Conclusion:
These data indicate that MS and multiple MS risk factors are very commonly present at entry into a comprehensive lifestyle management/CVD risk reduction program. Our findings are particularly relevant when designing and prioritizing components of programs to foster comprehensive lifestyle management and CVD risk reduction outside of a formal cardiac rehabilitation setting.