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Gender differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in 50-year-old Swedish men and women with hypertension born in 1953

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 27, pages 56–61 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

To investigate potential gender differences in the role of hypertension as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS) we used a random population sample of 50-year-old men (n=595) and women (n=667; all born in 1953) who were examined in 2003–2004. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure values were dichotomized at ⩾140 mm Hg and ⩾90 mm Hg, respectively. MetS was defined using NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Programme) and IDF (International Diabetes Federation) criteria. MetS was more prevalent in men than in women (NCEP 16% versus 10%, P=0.003; IDF 26% versus 16%, P=0.000) and systolic hypertension was more common in men than in women (high SBP 24% versus 18%, P=0.003; high DBP 29% versus 24%, P=0.074). Women with high SBP had about a seven-fold increased NCEP risk compared with normotensive women (odds ratio (OR) 6.91, confidence interval (CI) 2.90–16.42), whereas high SBP in men was associated with about a three-fold increased NCEP risk (OR 2.72, CI 1.69–4.38). A similar pattern was observed for the IDF criterion of MetS. All interaction terms (sex × hypertension) were significant at P<0.01. At middle age, despite that fewer women had hypertension or MetS than men, hypertension carries a relatively greater risk for MetS in women than in men.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, and the Swedish Labour Market Insurance Company. We acknowledge the statistical advice of Georgios Lappas, Statistician.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    M Novak, L Björck & A Rosengren

  2. Department of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    L Welin, C Welin & K Manhem

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  1. M Novak
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  2. L Björck
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  3. L Welin
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  4. C Welin
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Correspondence to M Novak.

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Novak, M., Björck, L., Welin, L. et al. Gender differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in 50-year-old Swedish men and women with hypertension born in 1953. J Hum Hypertens 27, 56–61 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.106

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