Metabolic syndrome: Different definitions and gender-specific associations with cardiovascular risk factors

Song et al., ¹ in the May 2015 issue of the journal, comment on gender differences in the associations between the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in urban adults from 33 Chinese communities.

Indeed, gender may affect the occurrence and responses to treatment of metabolic abnormalities. ² MetS treatment may be more effective in terms of estimated CV risk reduction in women. ³

Several scientific societies produced diagnostic criteria for MetS.^4–6 Not surprisingly, several studies reported significant differences in MetS prevalence depending on the diagnostic criteria used.^7–9 Furthermore, the association of MetS with CV disease and risk factors varied according to the MetS definition.^7,9–11 To help resolve these discrepancies, a Joint Interim Societies MetS definition was produced, ¹² setting definitive waist circumference (WC) criteria based on ethnicity. However, Song et al. ¹ did not use this MetS definition, although they adjusted the WC as suggested (but not defined) in the diagnostic criteria they used. ⁵ Future studies should apply the same diagnostic criteria in order to facilitate comparisons.

Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels have been associated with MetS ¹³ and CV risk. ¹⁴ Previous Chinese studies^15,16 reported gender-specific correlations between SUA, MetS and CV risk factors. It would be useful to know whether there were such differences in the Song et al. ¹ study.