PurposeMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is extremely prevalent and related to severe diseases and death. This study aims to investigate the incidence and mortality trends among MetS over the past few decades. The gender and age differences of MetS are also explored.Patients and methodsAdults with MetS were screened in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2014. The mortality data were also acquired. Then we assessed the incidence and mortality trends of MetS in the United States.ResultsOur study included 14171 participants with a mean age of 46.8 ± 19.3 years, of whom 7354 (51.9%) were women. Among them, 4789 participants were subsequently diagnosed with MetS. From 1999 to 2014, the overall trend of MetS incidence increased (from 27.6 to 32.3%; adjusted odds ratios [aOR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-2.05; P-value <0.001, P for trend <0.001). In more detail, the incidence of MetS rose first but subsequently plateaued and declined. Obvious downward trends were observed from 29.6 to 2.7% for all-cause mortality (aOR, 0.12; 95%CI, 0.07-0.21; P-value <0.001, P for trend <0.001) and 4.8 to 0.8% for cardio-cerebrovascular mortality (aOR, 0.17; 95%CI, 0.05-0.61; P-value =0.007, P for trend <0.001). All-cause mortality decreased yearly, whereas cardio-cerebrovascular death increased briefly before declining and stabilizing. Similarly, the temporal mortality trends in MetS patients of different ages and genders had the same results. Specifically, the incidence of MetS was higher in women than in men (adjusted P =0.003; OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 1.05-1.24), but the mortality was significantly lower after an average of 7.7 years of follow-up (all-cause mortality, adjusted P <0.001; hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95%CI, 0.57-0.81; cardio-cerebrovascular mortality, adjusted P =0.004; HR, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.37-0.83).ConclusionFrom 1999 to 2014, the incidence of MetS in U.S. adults significantly increased overall, while the mortality rate of MetS had a considerable downward trend. Both trends showed marked gender differences, being more prevalent and at lower risk in women compared with men. It is important to identify the factors that will curb the incidence of MetS and decrease mortality, especially in male patients.

IntroductionHigh-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an emerging method of cardiac rehabilitation, which is more and more popular in recent years. Research into the effect of HIIT on peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and myocardial fibrosis among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) is lacking. Here, we describe the rationale along with the protocol for a clinical trial to test the following hypotheses: (1) compared with the control group, VO2 peak will be increased in both the moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and HIIT groups and (2) compared with the control group, myocardial fibrosis due to MI will be improved by HIIT and MICT.Methods and AnalysisThis is a single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial. In total, 180 patients with MI are to be recruited for this study. VO2 peak will be tested by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and myocardial fibrosis will be evaluated by cardiac MR. A variety of blood and psychometric tests and also the peripheral arterial tonometry, reactive hyperemia index for microvascular endothelial function, and microvascular blockage or digital vasomotor response are included.Ethics and DisseminationThe ethics committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital has authorized this mechanistic clinical research. Peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations will be used to disseminate the findings.Trial Registration NumberNCT04863677.