Metabolic Syndrome and the Burden of Chronic Disease in Canada

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of risk markers that appear to promote the development of chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It contributes to a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease and five-fold increased risk of diabetes, and is demonstrated to result in higher health care costs. The current study seeks to examine the burden of MetS through its current and projected association with NCDs.

The Canadian Health Measures Survey was used to identify the prevalence of MetS among Canadian adults. Associations between socio-demographic factors and major NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidemia) are examined. Projected cumulative incidence of diabetes, and percent risk of a fatal cardiovascular event, are estimated using the DPoRT and Framingham algorithms.

After age-adjustment, more than one in six Canadian adults has MetS (rNCEP definition, 14·9%).  The rates of MetS were similar across sexes, but were higher among ethnic, overweight, and obese individuals (p<0·001 for all three). The importance of MetS for public health was demonstrated by its significant association with NCDs relative to the general population, particularly for diagnosed (11·2% vs. 3·4%) and undiagnosed type II diabetes (6·0% vs.1·1%). The ten-year incidence estimate of diabetes, and mean percent risk of a fatal CVD event, were higher among individuals with MetS compared to those without (24·8% vs. 8·8% for diabetes, and 4·1% vs. 0·8% for CVD).

MetS is prevalent among Canadian adults and a high proportion of individuals with MetS have chronic conditions, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed.  Projection estimates for the incidence of NCDs associated with MetS demonstrate higher rates among individuals with this condition. Thus, MetS may be a key risk factor in the development of NCDs, and health care professionals may want to consider the value of MetS as an innovative health promotion target for the prevention and management of NCDs.