Metabolic syndrome in Canadians, 2009 to 2011
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Results from the 2009 to 2011 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) indicate that 1 in 5 Canadian adults aged 18 to 79 had metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of risk factors that increase a person's risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.1 These risk factors include abdominal obesity (high waist circumference), elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high fasting blood glucose, and high blood pressure.1
Metabolic syndrome was found in 22% of Canadians aged 18 to 79 years (Chart 1). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases significantly with age such that only 1 in 10 Canadians aged 18 to 39 years were found to have metabolic syndrome compared to 4 in 10 Canadians aged 60 to 79 years. There were no significant differences found between males and females.
Chart 1
Metabolic syndrome†, by age group and sex, household population aged 18 to 79, Canada, 2009 to 2011
E Use with caution (data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6% to 33.3%)
F Too unreliable to be published (data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 33.3%; suppressed due to extreme sampling variability)
† According to new Harmonized Metabolic Syndrome definition1
Source: Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2009 to 2011. The CHMS collects health information on the Canadian household population aged 3 to 79.
Though only 22% of Canadian adults were determined to have metabolic syndrome based on having three or more component risk factors, 39% had two or more components, 64% had at least one, and only 37% had none at all (Chart 2). The number of metabolic syndrome risk factors increased significantly with age: approximately 5 in 10 adults aged 18 to 39 had at least one risk factor, compared to approximately 8 in 10 adults aged 60 to 79. Similarly, 2 in 10 adults aged 18 to 39 had at least 2 risk factors, compared to 6 in 10 adults aged 60 to 79. There were no significant differences in the number of component risk factors between males and females.
Chart 2
Proportion of the population by number of metabolic syndrome components, by age, household population 18 to 79, Canada, 2009 to 2011
E Use with caution (data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6% to 33.3%)
F Too unreliable to be published (data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 33.3%; suppressed due to extreme sampling variability)
† According to new Harmonized Metabolic Syndrome definition1
Source: Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2009 to 2011. The CHMS collects health information on the Canadian household population aged 3 to 79.
About metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome was determined according to recent unified criteria.1 Under these criteria, metabolic syndrome is present if any three of the following criteria are met:
| Criterion | Cut-off for males | Cut-off for females |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal obesity | Waist circumference ≥102 cm | Waist circumference ≥88 cm |
| Elevated plasma triglycerides | ≥1.7 mmol/L | ≥1.7 mmol/L |
| Elevated fasting blood glucose | ≥5.6 mmol/L | ≥5.6 mmol/L |
| Decreased HDL cholesterol | <1.03 mmol/L | <1.30 mmol/L |
| Elevated blood pressure | ≥130/85 mmHg | ≥130/85 mmHg |
| HDL = high density lipoprotein | ||
Additionally, the use of any medication for any of the above criteria is considered as meeting that specific criterion.
References
- Alberti K, Eckel RH, Grundy SM, et al. Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome. A joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; World Heart Federation; International Atherosclerosis Society; and International Association for the Study of Obesity. Circulation. 2009;120(16):1640-5.
For more information on the Canadian Health Measures Survey, please contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 613-951-8116; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).
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