Asian populations develop metabolic complications of obesity at lower amounts of adipose tissue than Western populations. The role of abdominal obesity in the difference between the two populations is poorly understood. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in a Dutch and Indonesian population, as well as to examine its associations with abdominal obesity.
In this cross-sectional study in the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity Syudy (n=6.671, aged 45-65) and the Indonesian National Health Surveilance (n=37.891, aged > 18), metabolic syndrome was defined by NCEP/ATPII. Multivariable logistic and linier regressions were performed to examine associations of BMI and Waist Circumference with metabolic syndrome and its components
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31% in the Indonesian and 30% in the Dutch population. For each standard deviation (SD) in BMI (4.4kg/m2) and waist circumference (11.3cm). adjusted odds ratios (95%CI)of metabolic syndrome were 2.7 (2.5-2.8) and 3.1 (3.0-3.3) in the Indonesian and 3.7 (3.4-4.2) and 4.5 (4.0-5.0) in the
Dutch population, each SD in waist circumference wa associated with higer triglycerides (0.13 mmol/L; 0.11-0.15, and 0.25 mmol/L; 0.19-0.31), higher fasting glucose (0.13mmol/L; 0.09-0.16 and 0.005 mmol/L; 0.00-0.11), and lower HDLcholesterol (-0.03 mmol/L; -0.04,-0.02 and -0.14 mmol/L; -0.17,-0.10).
In both populations, abdominal adiposity was more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome than overall obesity. Waist circumference was more strongly associated with triglycerides and HDL.
