OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Chinese postmenopausal women and explore the optimum body composition indices to predict MetS.

METHODS

Participants were independent, community-dwelling women. Recruitment occurred through advertisements in newspapers and flyers posted in the local community. A total of 181 postmenopausal women were recruited. Their parameters were measured, including body height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, blood pressure, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and body fat (BF; %). Logistic regression analyses were applied for correlation between stated variables. Optimization of body composition indices to predict MetS in postmenopausal women was analyzed with the area under the curve of the receiver.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS in postmenopausal women was 33.7%. The risk factors of MetS in postmenopausal women were age, family history of metabolic disorders (obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, and diabetes mellitus), body composition indices (body mass index [BMI], WC, waist-to-hip ratio, sagittal abdominal diameter, and BF), and metabolic indices (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and triglyceride; odds ratio > 1, P < 0.05), and the protective factor is high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (odds ratio = 0.114, P < 0.05). All body composition indices in our study had a positive correlation with number of MetS factors. The body composition indices in our study showed a positive correlation with each other (P < 0.001). BMI and WC were highly correlated with BF (r > 0.900, P < 0.001). Through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, it was determined that body composition indices (WC, 80.75 cm; BF, 36.695%; sagittal abdominal diameter, 18.35 cm; or BMI, 24.835 kg/m) could be used to predict MetS.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MetS in Chinese postmenopausal women is 33.7%. Body composition indices (WC > or = 80.75 cm, BF > or = 36.695%, sagittal abdominal diameter > or = 18.35 cm, or BMI > or = 24.835 kg/m) were discovered to predict MetS.