Metabolic syndrome occurrence in university students from México City: The binomium HDL/waist circumference is the major prevalence factor

Objective: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is the leading cause to develop type 2 diabetes worldwide. We examined associations of MetS components early in life, and their use as risk factors of acquiring MetS. Method: We used an international definition of MetS. Subjects were categorized into “Healthy”/“Not Healthy”, altered parameters are low HDL-cholesterol, large waist circumference (WC), hypertriacylglycerolemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia, in 32 combinations (2^5) with two values (altered/not altered). MetS was identified with three or more altered parameters. Results: A total of 3424 students (ages 17 - 24 years) participated in the survey, and 2475 were “Not Healthy” showing at least 1 parameter altered; from them 49.6% showed low blood HDL either alone or combined, 38.2% had altered waist circumference either alone or combined; while 18.1% showed hypertriacylglycero-lemia either alone or combined. Hypertension and hyperglycemia were the lowest in frequency. Conclusion: We propose that the binomium HDL/ Waist Circumference is the main prevalence factor to develop MetS in the asymptomatic young population, followed by hypertriacylglycerolemia which together define MetS; while hypertension and hyperglycemia seem to occur later in MetS.