J Cardiovasc Disease Res., 2015; 6(4): 172-175 A Multifaceted Peer Reviewed Journal in the field of Cardiology www.jcdronline.org | www.journalonweb.com/jcdr Original Article Original Article The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in the North of Iran. An Epidemiologic Comparative Study Gholamreza Veghari * , Mehdi Sedaghat, Samieh Banihashem, Pooneh Moharloei, Abdolhamid Angizeh, Ebrahim Tazik, Abbas Moghaddami, Khadijeh Kordy and Mohammadreza Honarvar Ischemic Disorders Research Center, School of Medicine Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. ABSTRACT Background and Objective:  The metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases (P<0.05 for all). The Pearson’s correlation coef fcient is positive between  the risk of cardiovascular diseases and the main aim of this study is to age and MetS (r=0.287, P=0.01). Generally, MetS was common in 37.9%  explorer prevalence of it in the north of Iran with comparison of Turkman of subjects and it was 14.7% in non-Turkman more than in Turkman people  and non-Turkman ethnic groups in 2012. Material and Methods:  This is a (P=0.015). Prevalence rate of MetS in men and women was 29.7% and  cross-sectional study that conducted on the 248 subjects aged 25-70 years 43.5%, respectively (P=0.001). Conclusion: In the north of Iran, the preva (Turkman=88 and non-Turkman=160). Individuals were chosen randomly lence of MetS is high and it was in non-Turkman ethnic group more than in  from 25 clusters. Waist circumference was measured with the subject Turkman group and in women more than in men while gender differences  standing at the end of normal breathing; blood pressure was measured only was shown in non-Turkman ethnic group.  in three times and 5 ml of venous blood drawn after 8-12 h fast in the  morning for laboratory test. Biochemical analysis including fasting blood Key words: Metabolic Syndrome, Adults, Ethnicity, Iran.  glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was  assayed using a commercially kit (Pars Azmoon, Karaj, Iran). ATP-III method Correspondence : and SPSS 16.0 software (Chicago II, USA) were used for diagnosis of MetS  Mr. Gholamreza Veghari, Ischemic Disorders Research Center, School of  and for statistical analyzes, respectively. P-value < 0.05 considered statistically  Medicine-Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan-Iran.  signifcant. Results: Compare to Turkman group, the mean of FBG (fast Email: grveghari@yahoo.com  ing blood glucose), triglyceride and waist circumference are 15.9 mg/dl,  30.2 mg/dl and 6.5 cm were more in non-Turkman group, respectively DOI : 10.5530/jcdr.2015.4.1  INTRODUCTION Te prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased over the past few years in the world and by 2020, more than 300 million people will be afected by the cardiovascular disease risk factors that constitute the MetS, glucose intolerance, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Te set of criteria to identify MetS are some of cardiometabolic risk factors that occur together, including hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, central obesity and elevated fasting blood glucose. Te MetS as a most risk factor increased cardiovascular disease twice as much as other agents. Te risk associated with MetS is greater than the sum of the risks resulting from its component features. MetS is helpful in predicting the occurrence of coronary heart disease. In recent years, changes in lifestyle and food behaviors extensively resulted in increase of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and MetS in worldwide especially in developing countries. Although several defnitions established for MetS but the most practical methods are the ATP III (Adult Treatment Panel III) and IDF (Interna- tional Diabetes Federation). Hence, based on socio-demographic factors ,ethnicity and type of MetS classifcation, the prevalence of it may be diferent in population. Golestan province located in the north of Iran (South-east of Caspian sea) and of 1,7 million people live in this area, 56.1% are in urban area and 43.9% are in rural area and whose main job is agriculture. Some ethnic groups have been living in the north of Iran as Fars-native, Turkman and Sisstani. Previous studies reported the hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity as the main health problems in the north of Iran as well as cardio- vascular disease in Iran. Besides, the lifestyle and food behavior diferences Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research, Vol 6, Issue 4, Oct-Dec, 2015 172 - - were seen among ethnic groups that living in this area. Tereby this study designed to determine the MetS prevalence in Golestan province (north of Iran and south east of Caspian sea) with comparison of Turkman and non-Turkman ethnic groups in 2012. MATERIAL AND METHODS Tis cross-sectional study has been carried out on the 248 subjects aged 25-70 years. Te required sample size by previous study with estimation of 20% MetS rate; a confdence level of 95% and a maximum marginal error 0.05, was calculated 246. Subjects were chosen randomly from 25 clusters and each cluster comprised 10 cases in two districts (Kordkoy and Kalaleh) in Golestan province (north of Iran and south east of Caspian sea). Te clusters were chosen randomly using systematic sampling technique based on postal code. A trained staf recorded the data during three months. Pregnant women and individuals refused to participate were excluded in this study. Te proportions of Turkman and non-Turkman ethnic groups are 88(35.5%) and 160(65.5%) cases, respectively. Waist circumference (WC)was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm at the superior border of the iliac crest with the subject standing, at the end of normal breathing, blood pressure was measured by a mercury sphygmo- manometer in three times and 5 ml of venous blood drawn afer 8-12 h fast in the morning for laboratory test. Biochemical analysis including fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol was assessed using a commercially kit (Pars Azmoon, Karaj, Iran). Te ethnic groups consist of two groups: 1) Turkman: Te inter marriage of this ethnic group with others was rare and this group can be distin- guished by phenotype. 2) non-Turkman: Included all of ethnic groups (except Turkman) that living in this area.