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Heterogeneity in sex differences in the metabolic syndrome in Dutch white, Surinamese African and South Asian populations
Author(s) -
Agyemang C.,
van Valkengoed I. G.,
van den Born B. J.,
Bhopal R.,
Stronks K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2012.03616.x
Subject(s) - medicine , metabolic syndrome , demography , ethnic group , obesity , national cholesterol education program , negroid , ethnic origin , cross sectional study , diabetes mellitus , epidemiology , endocrinology , population , environmental health , pathology , sociology , anthropology
Diabet. Med. 29, 1159‐1164 (2012) Abstract Aim To determine whether sex differences in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components differ among different ethnic groups. Methods A random sample of non‐institutionalized adults aged 35–60 years in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (white Dutch men n = 242, women n = 244; African‐Surinamese men n = 193, women n = 399, Hindustani‐Surinamese men n = 149, women n = 186). The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Results In all ethnic groups, the prevalence of central obesity and reduced HDL cholesterol were higher in women than in men, but the prevalence of elevated blood pressure, fasting glucose and triglycerides were lower in women than in men. However, the magnitude of the differences varied. The sex differences in the prevalence of central obesity and reduced HDL cholesterol were particularly larger in ethnic minority groups, especially in African‐Surinamese than in white Dutch. After adjustment for education, smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was lower in white Dutch women than in white Dutch men (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.94). By contrast, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher in African‐Surinamese women than in African‐Surinamese men (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.12–2.18). Among Hindustani‐Surinamese, men and women had a similar prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.00, 95% CI 0.76–1.31). Conclusions Our findings suggest different patterns in sex differences in the metabolic syndrome among the ethnic groups. The relatively high prevalence of central obesity in African‐Surinamese women may underlie their higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Strategies to improve metabolic profiles among African‐Surinamese and white Dutch people need to take sex differences into account.