The Characteristics of Living and Behavioral Factors in Chinese Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a combination of glucose and lipid abnormalities and associated with cardiac and cerebral events and the likelihood of inducible myocardial ischemia and stroke. As MS is partly a result of living and behavioral patterns, we assessed whether there exists some relationship between MS morbidity and the lifestyle of urban citizens. We evaluated 836 patients in the age range from 35 to 97 years. All participants were divided into five groups: MS group, essential hypertension group, type 2 diabetes group, essential hypertension combined with type 2 diabetes group and control group. The baseline data and other serum indices were collected. A specifically designed questionnaire was used to inquire about the current situation of each patient. Finally, we assess the influence of various factors on MS patients after grouping. Body mass index and waistline in the MS group were significantly greater than in other groups. Smoking, amount of alcohol consumption, and moderate physical activity were several crucial factors in the MS group compared with the control group. The intake of fatty and pickled food in the MS group was also higher compared with those in other groups. Average time of physical exercise decreased in the order control group, essential hypertension group, and MS group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). We conclude that among urban middle-aged and older patients in Shanghai, MS patients are overweight, have severe dyslipidemia, smoke and consume alcohol, eat more fatty food, and perform less physical exercise, which point out the importance of prevention, corresponding therapeutic lifestyle changes, and medication.