The prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome in Chinese aging population

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is hitting high notes in the aging society in China. However, the prevalence and associated factors in Chinese aging population lack clarity to some extent. In the present study, we projected to inquire into the prevalence of MetS and its associated factors by analyzing datasets downloaded from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Data comprising age, gender, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and health behaviors as well as blood biomarkers were subjected to descriptive statistics followed by univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression. The overall prevalence of MetS was 33.38% (95% CI 32.42–34.34%). With age augments, prevalence increased during 40–70 years, while declined in participants aged 70 years above. Females had 2.94 times of risks (95% CI 2.55–3.39, P < 0.001). Marital status and alcohol consumption contributed nothing to the suffering of MetS. Participants with GDP per capita > 10,000 RMB and a non-agricultural hukou sustained higher risks than other participants ( P < 0.05). Participants under education of middle school suffered 1.16 times of risks than other level of education (95% CI 1.01–1.34, P < 0.05). Smokers, participants with high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or hyperuricemia or high glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c sustained increased risks ( P < 0.05). In Chinese aging population, with the augment of age, the prevalence ascended in men, while descended in women and was interfered by socioeconomic status, lifestyle and health behaviors as well as blood biomarkers, but not marital status and alcohol consumption.