Objective: To describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among rural adult residents in Ningxia, under IDF2005 ATP III 2005 AHA and CDs2004 definition.
Methods: Stratified cluster sampling methods was used and the participants were interviewed by trained health workers under a structured questionnaire. The number of research subjects was 1612. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood lipids, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) of all samples (1612 subjects) were measured. and related data was analysed by IDF2005, ATP III 2005 AHA, as well as CDs2004 definition of MS.
Results: The age-standardized prevalence of MS was 15.00% by ATP III 2005 AHA definition and 11.80% by IDF 2005 definition and 6.71% by CDs 2004 definition, respectively. Based on IDF 2005 and ATP III 2005 AHA definition, women had higher prevalence than men (16.3% vs. 5.4%, 18.9% vs. 8.9%, P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between them according to the CDs definition. MS prevalence among Hui (Muslim) ethnic group was higher than Han ethnic group (P < 0.05). The prevalence of MS increased with age in all samples and the prevalence of MS started at age of 35 in Hui ethnic group, higher than in Han ethnic group. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rates of MS between male Hui ethnic group and male Han ethnic group (P > 0.05). The prevalence of MS in female Hui ethnic group was higher than Han ethnic group females (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of MS was high in the rural adult residents, in Ningxia. Clusters of MS components were commonly seen, and the main disorder appeared in lipid abnormalities and abnormal glucose metabolism. It is necessary to discuss that the cut off point of central obesity for the waist circumference diagnostic criteria of MS in different ethnic groups in China. Big differences on the components of MS were seen in different ethnic groups. It is important to choose suitable MS definition for prevention of MS and to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.