Increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Poland: comparison of the results of the WOBASZ (2003-2005) and WOBASZ II (2013-2014) studies.

INTRODUCTION Metabolic syndrome (MS) significantly increases cardiovascular risk. Knowledge about the current prevalence of MS in the Polish population is limited. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MS in the Polish population based on the results of the WOBASZ II study (2013-2014) and to compare the obtained data with the results of the WOBASZ study (2003-2005). PATIENTS AND METHODS A representative sample of 19 751 Polish adults from the WOBASZ and WOBASZ II studies was analyzed. Diagnostic criteria for MS included abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting glucose values, and lipid disorders; MS was diagnosed if at least 3 individual components were present. RESULTS Based on the WOBASZ II study (2013-2014), the prevalence of MS in Poland was 32.8% in women and 39% in men. In women, the most frequent component of MS was abdominal obesity (64.7%), while in men it was increased blood pressure (62%). In the decade between the WOBASZ and WOBASZ II studies, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of MS in Polish adults aged 20 to 74 years: by 3.3 percentage points in women (26.6% vs 29.9%; P <0.001) and by 8.8 percentage points in men (30.7% vs 39.4%; P <0.001). The increase in the frequency of carbohydrate metabolism disorders was the greatest contributor to this phenomenon; however, abdominal obesity and lipid disorders were also significantly more frequent. CONCLUSIONS It is alarming that in the decade between the WOBASZ and WOBASZ II studies there was such a significant increase in the prevalence of MS and its individual components in Poland.