Awareness, treatment and control of the metabolic syndrome and its components: a multicentre Greek study.

Introduction: There are no data concerning the degree of awareness, treatment and control of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components or associated vascular risk in the general population.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was made of a representative sample of Greek adults (n=9669, 49% men and 51% women), living in urban, semi-urban and rural areas (55%, 23% and 22%, respectively). The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions for the MetS were used.

Results: The age-standardised prevalence of the MetS in the general population was 24.5% [95% CI 23.4-25.7%] (n=2369). This was similar in men and women and increased with age. Among subjects with the NCEP MetS the prevalence of hypertension was 71%, elevated blood glucose 55%, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 58%, high triglycerides 63% and abdominal obesity 82%. Only one third of subjects were aware of the MetS component conditions, less than one quarter were on treatment, and very few (< or =10%) were controlled for MetS components. Awareness of MetS individual component conditions (e.g. arterial hypertension), and consequently effective control, was lower than that reported in other cohorts, including subjects without MetS. Only 5% of subjects were aware of MetS as an entity, 2% were treated for all component conditions and only 1% were controlled. Using the IDF definition, the prevalence of MetS was higher (43.4%) and awareness, treatment and control of MetS and its components were significantly lower.

Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS is high in Greece but is not recognised among the general population. Therefore, treatment and control of MetS and component conditions are extremely low. If the situation does not improve soon, MetS will cause a further increase in the vascular disease epidemic in the years to come. This calls for urgent education of the public and the medical community.