IJCS | Volume 31, Nº6, November / December 2018

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20180065 603 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2018;31(6)603-609 Mailing Address: Juan P. González-Rivas Av. Miranda. The Andes Clinic of Cardio-Metabolic Studies. Postal Code: 3112, Sector Centre, Timotes, Mérida - Venezuela E-mail: juanpgonzalezr@hotmail.com, juanpgonzalezr79@gmail.com Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Three Regions in Venezuela: The VEMSOLS Study Imperia Brajkovich, 1 Juan P. González–Rivas, 2 Eunice Ugel, 3 Alejandro Rísquez, 1 Ramfis Nieto-Martínez 4 Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1 Caracas - Venezuela The Andes Clinic of Cardio-Metabolic Studies, 2 Timotes - Venezuela Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, 3 Lara - Venezuela Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Miami VA Healthcare System, 4 Florida - USA Manuscript received October 21, 2017, revised manuscript January 25, 2018, accepted February 16, 2018. Abstract Background: No previous study has evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in more than one region in Venezuela. Objective: To determine the prevalence of MS in three Venezuelan regions. Methods: From 2006 to 2010, a total of 1,320 subjects aged ≥ 20 years were selected by multistage stratified random sampling from the regions of Lara State (western region), Mérida State (the Andean region), and Capital District (Capital Region). Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and biochemical analysis were obtained from each participant. MS was defined according to the harmonized Joint Interim Statement (2009) definition. Results: Mean age was 44.8 ± 0.39 years and 68.5% of the participants were female. The overall prevalence of MS was 35.7% (95% confidence interval 32.2 – 39.2%), while the prevalence was 42.5% (95% CI 38.8 – 46.1%) among men and 32.6% (95% CI 29.1 – 36.0%) among women (p < 0.001). In women, the prevalence of MS increased at almost every decade of life, while in men, the prevalence was similar from the age of 30 years onwards. The most prevalent abnormalities were low HDL-c levels (58.6%, 95% CI 54.9 – 62.1%), abdominal obesity (52.0%, 95% CI 48.4 – 55.7%), and elevated triglycerides levels (39.7%, 95% CI 36.1 – 43.2%). The prevalence of MS increased with increasing body mass index categories. Conclusion: In Venezuela, MS is a highly prevalent condition, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in a large number of subjects. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(6)603-609) Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome/epidemiology; Obesity; Venezuela/epidemiology; Risk Factors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2. Introduction Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors characterized by dysfunctional adipose tissue and insulin resistance, 1,2 clinically expressed by atherogenic dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, increased blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose concentration. Subjects with MS have increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (T2D). 3 Although many controversial issues exist around MS, 4 assessing this syndrome is pathophysiologically and epidemiologically relevant 5 to determine regional differences in cardiometabolic diseases and risk. The International Diabetes Federation, American Heart Association, and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have standardized their criteria for the definition of MS. These updated diagnostic criteria maintained the components de ned by the last National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III (NECP/ ATP-III) modi cation in 2005, 6 and recommended the use of speci c cutoff values of waist circumference for each ethnic group or population. A cutoff for abdominal