Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Relatives of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Results: Of the 230 siblings enrolled, complete data was available for 197. Mean age of index sibling, (n=112) was 34 ± 10.7; referent: (n=85)35.7±10.5 (p=0.24). Of 230 spouses enrolled, complete data was available for 187 spouses-mean age of index spouse, (n=84), was 49.6±11.0; referent: (n=103) 48.7±9.3 (p=0.1). No significant association in overall prevalence of MS in sibling and spouse of individuals with DM2, versus sibling and spouse of non-diabetics was found. There was significant association of high waist circumference in both siblings [1.04(1.006-1.07)] and spouses [1.03(1.007-1.06)] of diabetics versus referents. Conclusion: Abdominal obesity needs to be an integral aspect of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. Health care providers need to incorporate spousal history of CVD and DM2 when taking family history from presenting patient. Advice regarding lifestyle modification is best targeted at the couple together, even if one partner appears to be nondiseased.