Endocrine & Metabolism Research Center, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Sedigheh Tahereh Research Complex, Isfahan, Iran.
Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2010 Dec;8(6):483-7. doi: 10.1089/met.2010.0015. Epub 2010 Oct 29.
Some reports show that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is higher in poorly educated women. In our opinion, one probable reason for this is that these women experience more stressful events in their lives. We investigated the association between major stressful life events and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the effect of education on this relationship in women.
This cross-sectional study included 35- to 55-year-old women who were first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetics. They were questioned about stressful events in their lives, their physical activities, and basic characteristics. In addition waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria, and the number of stresses was compared between two groups of participants with and without metabolic syndrome.
Among the 351 study participants, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 28.9%. The mean number of stresses in the metabolic syndrome group was higher than in the nonmetabolic syndrome group at 3.82 ± 2.67 and 3.14 ± 2.35, respectively (P = 0.036). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in subjects with eight or more stressful life events (46%) was greater compared to those who had experienced less than eight stresses (23.4%; P = 0.017). The relationship between stressful life events and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was independent of the low level of education, but the prevalence of poorly educated women was associated with the number of stresses.
Considering the probable association between stress and prevalence of metabolic syndrome, which itself increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, educating high-risk people to cope with stresses may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and preventing the onset of metabolic syndrome.
一些报告显示，代谢综合征在受教育程度较低的女性中更为普遍。在我们看来，一个可能的原因是这些女性在生活中经历了更多的压力事件。我们研究了主要生活压力事件与代谢综合征患病率之间的关系，以及教育对这种关系的影响。
这是一项横断面研究，纳入了年龄在 35-55 岁之间的 2 型糖尿病一级亲属的女性。询问她们生活中的压力事件、身体活动和基本特征。此外，还测量了腰围、血压、空腹血糖、甘油三酯、总胆固醇和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）。根据成人治疗小组 III（ATP III）标准定义代谢综合征，比较两组有和无代谢综合征患者的应激数。
在 351 名研究参与者中，代谢综合征的患病率为 28.9%。代谢综合征组的平均应激数高于非代谢综合征组，分别为 3.82±2.67 和 3.14±2.35（P=0.036）。经历 8 次或更多生活压力事件的患者中代谢综合征的患病率（46%）高于经历少于 8 次压力事件的患者（23.4%；P=0.017）。生活压力事件与代谢综合征患病率之间的关系独立于教育程度低，但受教育程度低的女性的患病率与压力的数量有关。
考虑到压力与代谢综合征患病率之间可能存在关联，而代谢综合征本身会增加心血管疾病的风险，教育高危人群应对压力可能有助于降低心血管疾病的发病率，预防代谢综合征的发生。
