The insulin resistance syndrome in Mexico. Prevalence and clinical characteristics: a population based study.

The insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) is recognized as a harbinger of serious morbidity and high mortality. No published data on the prevalence of the IRS in the Mexican population exist. We estimated the prevalence of the IRS in an area that had 15,532 inhabitants, 3505 (22.6%) of whom were eligible (35-64 years of age, men and non-pregnant women). Interviews were obtained on 2810 (80.2%), a physical and laboratory examination with oral glucose tolerance test, insulin determinations and lipid profile was performed on 2282 individuals, 81.2% of those interviewed, 65.1% of eligibles. The IRS was defined as the coexistence of the triad: hypertension, glucose intolerance (diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance) and dyslipidemia (triglycerides > or = 200 mg/dl and HDL < 35 mg/dl). Using this diagnostic criteria the prevalence of IRS in the general population was 2.97% for men and 3.21% for women. In subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), the IRS was identified in 11.7%. In diabetics, IRS occurred in 13.7%. Subjects with IRS (IGT and diabetics) were significantly more obese (BMI 30 +/- 4.3 vs. 28.4 +/- 4.2 kg/m2 p < 0.001), had central upper body fat pattern distribution (sub/tri skinfolds 1.66 +/- 1.1 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.7 p < 0.02), (waist/hip circumferences 1 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.97 +/- 0.07 p < 0.001) and hyperinsulinemia fasting and post glucose load (25 +/- 17 vs. 15 +/- 13 p < 0.001, 157 +/- 92 vs. 85 +/- 72 p < 0.001, respectively). We conclude that the prevalence of IRS is high, individuals with IRS in Mexico have an anthropometric profile characterized by central, upper body obesity. A significant proportion of the patients with IGT and DM are at the highest cardiovascular risk.