Prävalenz des Metabolischen Syndroms in Deutschland: Ergebnisse der Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)

International studies demonstrate both an increase in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and a shift to a manifestation in younger age. Current definitions of MetSyn require fasting blood values which are usually lacking in population-based studies. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MetSyn in a north-eastern German population with non fasting blood values. Data from the representative sample of the Study of Health in Pomerania with 4310 subjects (response rate 68.8%) were analysed. The MetSyn was defined according to NECP / ATP III modified with AHA/NHLBI and IDF criteria based on non fasting blood values. The overall standardized prevalence of MetSyn was 23.8% (women 18.6%, men 29.1%), whereas the prevalence in women was lower in all age groups compared to men. In addition, we observed an age dependent increase of the MetSyn prevalence with 4.0% and 6.6% for women and men aged 20-29 years compared with 44.7% and 39.8% women and men aged >70 years, respectively. Increasingly more subjects in younger ages are affected, but currently, age is less considered to identify persons at risk. An early detection as well as coordinated, multimodal public health interventions are required to prevent a further increase of MetSyn and the epidemic of obesity.