Gender Disparity in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korea: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate gender specific characteristics in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and abnormalities in Korean population using the 2009 Joint Interim Statement of the International Diabetes Federation. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data based on the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). MetS prevalence was calculated for 5,935 Korean adults (≥ 20 years of age) by sex and age group. Incidence rates of five MetS risk factors were also assessed. Results: The prevalence of MetS among Koreans was 21.7% (22.9% for men, 20.6% for women). Elderly women after menopause had the highest prevalence of MetS and all five risk factors. Young and middle-aged men had higher prevalence and risk factors of MetS than similarly-aged women, but the rate of MetS in women surged significantly from age 50 and surpassed that of men thereafter. Women had a higher prevalence of low HDL cholesterol than men in all age groups. Of the five MetS risk factors, the prevalence of hypertension was highest (36.0%). About one-third of Korean have hypertension as a main risk factor. Conclusion: We observed a mounting gender disparity with age due to an increase in the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in female. Preventive strategies including lifestyle interventions and health education about MetS need to be implemented pre-menopausal women and middle-aged men. Therapeutic strategies including drug intervention should be employed for elderly women. In 2012, more than one-fifth of Korean have MetS. These results indicate that MetS is an imperative public health issue that needs to be managed at the national level. Reducing the rates of hypertension and dyslipidemia will be critical to controlling MetS. This study provides not only the latest information but also target population and high risk factors for controlling MetS.

Associations Between Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Metabolic Syndrome by Gender in Young Adults

“…Generally, however, all of these results support the existence of gender differences in the prevalence of MetS, and the conflicting results are likely due to differences in the age and ethnicity of the populations surveyed and the MetS definitions used. Our findings are consistent with those of previous reports (Adam et al, 2015;Chen et al, 2010;Im & Seomun, 2015) indicating significantly higher prevalence rates of hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia in young adult males compared to young adult females, which researchers have attributed to variations in fat distribution, sex hormones, and ferritin levels (Jehn, Clark, & Guallar, 2004;Razzouk & Muntner, 2009). Premenopausal females have higher levels of estrogen than young adult males, which promotes insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, favorable lipid profiles, less visceral fat accumulation (Geer & Shen, 2009;Pradhan, 2014), lower BP, and lower TG levels (Razzouk & Muntner, 2009).…”

“…In previous studies, researchers have found that males had a greater propensity for unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and were less motivated to engage in health-promoting activities than females, thus placing them at a higher risk of MetS (Chen, Wu, Hwang, & Li, 2010). Our result in the present study is consistent with the findings of a study involving Korean males aged 20-39 years in which young men had a higher prevalence of MetS than similarly aged women (Im & Seomun, 2015) but is inconsistent with reports of higher MetS prevalence in American females aged 20-39 years than in males of the same age (Aguilar et al, 2015). Generally, however, all of these results support the existence of gender differences in the prevalence of MetS, and the conflicting results are likely due to differences in the age and ethnicity of the populations surveyed and the MetS definitions used.…”