Korean J Health Promot.  2013 Dec;13(4):125-132.

Socioeconomic Status and Health Behaviors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Adults over 40 Years

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Family Medicine, Daegu Catholic University Hospital, Daegu, Korea. khmksh@cu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Preventive Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
  • 3Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The most effective means of preventing chronic disease is known to be promoting health behaviors; but this is difficult because health behaviors are associated with the socioeconomic status (SES). SES is a measure of access to material resources and social resources. This study aimed to assess the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and SES after controlling for health behaviors (smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and diet).
METHODS
24,515 participants (8,214 men, 16,301 women) older than 40 years were recruited from the 2004-2008 Korean Health Examinee Cohort. Along with MetS components, SES and health behaviors data were collected through individual interviews. SES was classified into tertiles (high, middle, and low groups) measured by education and house income levels. MetS was defined using the criteria from the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel-lll (NCEP ATP-lll, 2007).
RESULTS
Among the study subjects, the prevalences of MetS were 13.8%, 17.4%, and 25.3% in the high, middle, and low SES groups, respectively. After controlling for age and health behaviors, the odds ratios for MetS in the high, middle, and low SES were 1.0, 1.54 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.34-1.76), and 2.01 (95% CI=1.72-2.36), respectively, for women. This association was not seen in men.
CONCLUSION
SES was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome, as with health behaviors, but only for women.

Keyword

Socioeconomic status; Metabolic syndrome; Health behavior

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Cholesterol
Chronic Disease
Cohort Studies
Education
Female
Health Behavior*
Humans
Male
Motor Activity
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Social Class*
Cholesterol
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