The Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome Among Arab Americans

  1. Linda A. Jaber, PHARMD1,
  2. Morton B. Brown, PHD2,
  3. Adnan Hammad, PHD3,
  4. Qian Zhu, MS,2 and
  5. William H. Herman, MD, MPH4
  1. 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
  2. 2Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  3. 3Community Health Center, ACCESS, Dearborn, Michigan
  4. 4Department of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Linda A. Jaber, PharmD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Ave., Detroit, MI 48201-2417. E-mail: ljaber{at}wayne.edu

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—To estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Arab Americans by age, sex, and BMI and to examine the association between insulin resistance and each of the components of the metabolic syndrome.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We studied a representative, cross-sectional, population-based sample of 542 Arab Americans aged 20–75 years. The metabolic syndrome was defined by Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria. Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).

RESULTS—The age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 23% (95% CI 19–26%) by the ATP III definition and 28% (24–32%) by the WHO definition. Although the prevalence increased significantly with age and BMI in both sexes by both definitions, differences in estimates were noted. With ATP III, the age-specific rates were similar for men and women aged 20–49 years but were significantly higher for women aged ≥50 years. With WHO, rates were higher for men than women aged 20–49 years and similar for those aged ≥50 years. The most common component of the metabolic syndrome in men and women was low HDL cholesterol with the ATP III and the presence of glucose intolerance and HOMA-IR with the WHO. Strong associations between HOMA-IR and individual components of the metabolic syndrome were observed. After fitting a model with HOMA-IR as the outcome, waist circumference, triglyceride level, and fasting plasma glucose level were significantly associated with HOMA-IR.

CONCLUSIONS—The metabolic syndrome is common among Arab Americans and is related to modifiable risk factors.

Footnotes

  • A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.

    • Accepted September 18, 2003.
    • Received June 25, 2003.
« Previous | Next Article »Table of Contents

This Article

  1. doi: 10.2337/diacare.27.1.234 Diabetes Care January 2004 vol. 27 no. 1 234-238
  1. » Abstract
  2. Full Text
  3. Full Text (PDF)

Current Issue

  1. December 2009, 32 (12)
  1. Current Issue
  1. Alert me to new issues of Diabetes Care