[Evolution of the metabolic syndrome and its components in a follow up of 10 years in adults from Valparaíso region].

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Its frequency is increasing steadily Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in a 10-year tracking study of young adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS Concurrent cohort study of subjects born between 1974 and 1978. They were evaluated between 2000 and 2002 and between 2010 and 2012 to determine the frequency of MS and its components (high blood glucose, waist circumference [WC], triglycerides, blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol), according to ATP III criteria. Attrition was handled using the reciprocal of the probability of remaining in the study. RESULT During the first evaluation, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 9.3%, confidence interval (CI): 7.5-11.1), with no gender differences. Ten years later, the prevalence of MS increased significantly to 27.6% (CI: 24.7-29.9) and was more common in women than men (30.4 and 23.8% respectively, p < 0.014). The components of MS also increased from one period to another: hyperglycemia, from 5.2% (CI: 4-7) to 24.4% (CI: 22-27); high triglyceride levels from 17.6% (CI: 15-20) to 35.3% (CI: 32-38); high blood pressure from 14.7 (CI: 13-18) to 30.2% (IC: 28-33) and high WC: 16.9% (CI: 15-19) to 41.5% (CI: 39-45). In both evaluations, there was a greater frequency of high triglycerides and high blood pressure among men, and greater frequency of low HDL and high WC among women. Hyperglycemia only showed differences by gender in the second measurement, and was greater among men. CONCLUSIONS There was a marked increase in metabolic syndrome and its components in a 10-year interval, which is a warning sign of future cardiovascular risk.