Metabolic syndrome in the Hong Kong community: the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service primary healthcare programme 2001-2002.

INTRODUCTION With recognition of the important role of central obesity in metabolic syndrome (MES), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has proposed a revised definition for MES in early 2005. Information of MES in Chinese by IDF criteria is limited. METHODS This was a cross-sectional observation survey. A sample of 7,473 subjects (2,660 men and 4,813 women) was examined. They presented voluntarily in the period between August 2001 and September 2002 for health assessment at the three health centres of the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service. RESULTS The mean age and standard deviation was 50.4 +/- 10.6 years (range 19-93 years, median 48.0 years). Among them, 30 percent had central obesity, 34 percent had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 20 percent had hypertriglyceridaemia, 47 percent had high blood pressure, and 23 percent had dysglycaemia. The age-standardised percentages of MES by National Cholesterol Education Programme and IDF criteria were 18.3 and 13.9 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION MES is not uncommon among the Hong Kong Chinese community. Further studies on the management and prevention of MES are indicated.