Prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome for at-risk people in a rural community

Effectiveness of a Community-Based Physical Activity and Nutrition Behavior Intervention on Features of the Metabolic Syndrome: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its subclinical diseases are now public health problems in Vietnam. This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of a physical activity and nutrition program for reducing MetS proportion and its components among adults with MetS in Hanam province, Vietnam.

METHODS

A total of 417 volunteers aged 50-65 years with MetS were recruited from 10 communes. The communes were randomly allocated to an intervention group (five communes, n = 214) and a control group (five communes, n = 203). The participants in the intervention group received a nutrition and physical activity program for 6 months, whereas participants in the control group received standard diet and physical activity advice on only one occasion. Anthropometry, lipid profiles, glycemic status, and blood pressure were measured at baseline and at 6 months to evaluate program effectiveness.

RESULTS

In total, 175 intervention (81.8%) and 162 control (79.8%) participants completed the post-program evaluation. After controlling for the effects of clustering and confounding factors, the intervention group showed significant improvements in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+0.42 mM, P < 0.001), waist circumference (-1.63 cm, P < 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (-0.024, P < 0.001), weight (-1.44 kg, P < 0.001), and body mass index (-0.59 kg/m², P < 0.001) when compared with the control group. A reduction in the MetS proportion was found in both intervention and control groups (P < 0.001), decreasing to 56.0% and 75.9%, respectively, but the post-program proportion was significantly lower among the intervention participants (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean number of MetS components exhibited by individuals decreased significantly in the intervention group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The community-based physical activity and nutrition program reduced MetS proportion, with significant improvements in several metabolic and anthropometric parameters for Vietnamese adults with MetS.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with change in subclinical arterial stiffness: a community-based Taichung community health study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MetS on arterial stiffness in a longitudinal study.

METHODS

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a measurement interpreted as arterial stiffness, was measured in 1518 community-dwelling persons at baseline and re-examined within a mean follow-up period of 3 years. Multivariate linear regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the longitudinal relationship between MetS and its individual components and baPWV, while multivariate logistic regression with GEE was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between MetS and its individual components and the high risk group with arterial stiffness.

RESULTS

Subjects with MetS showed significantly greater baPWV at the end point than those without MetS, after adjusting for age, gender, education, hypertension medication and mean arterial pressure (MAP). MetS was associated with the top quartile of baPWV (the high-risk group of arterial stiffness, adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.52 [1.21-1.90]), and a significant linear trend of risk for the number of components of MetS was found (p for trend < 0.05). In further considering the individual MetS component, elevated blood pressure and fasting glucose significantly predicted a high risk of arterial stiffness (adjusted OR [95% CI] 3.72 [2.81-4.93] and 1.35 [1.08-1.68], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

MetS affects the subject's progression to arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness increased as the number of MetS components increased. Management of MetS is important for preventing the progression to advanced arterial stiffness.