Rising Metabolic Syndrome Among Mexico’s Older Adults

A recent cross-sectional study involving 804 volunteers and data from the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey found a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Mexican adults older than 60 years.

The study observed that women were twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, smokers were three times more likely, individuals with overweight had a sixfold risk, and those with obesity had a 13-fold risk.

Overall, 77.4% of participants were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (95% CI, 72.2-81.9). The prevalence was 71.2% for men (95% CI, 63.2-78.9) and 83.7% for women (95% CI, 77.9-88.2). The study, published in the journal Salud Pública de México, also indicated that individuals with obesity had a higher likelihood of elevated fasting plasma glucose levels and hypertension.

The study’s findings suggest that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in older Mexican adults is higher than that in previous studies conducted in Mexico and in similar population groups in other middle-income Latin American countries. For example, the 2007 National Health and Nutrition Survey of Beneficiaries reported a 73% prevalence in older adults.

Interestingly, the study found no significant differences in prevalence based on geographic region, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. However, older adults with more years of schooling were at a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. This finding contrasts with trends observed in countries such as Brazil, where lower levels of education are associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

These findings provide a comprehensive view of metabolic syndrome in older Mexican adults and highlight the urgent need for public policies focused on preventing and reducing obesity, diabetes, and related conditions affecting older individuals. “The rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome in older adults has been associated with functional disability, decreased physical activity, poor diet, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, studies in China, Brazil, and Colombia consider socioeconomic variables, such as residence, urban and rural areas, educational level, and socioeconomic status, as independent risk factors,” the study authors explained.

However, they noted, “In Mexico, there is no prior literature on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with sociodemographic factors in this population sector based on nationally representative data.” Their research aimed to fill this gap and provide updated data to improve prevention and care strategies for obesity and related conditions. “As research on metabolic syndrome progresses, we find that a high prevalence already existed, but now it is greater. This indicates the ongoing growth of this problem not only in Mexico but worldwide,” commented Dr Pedro Torres Ambriz, a specialist in endocrinology and nutrition, who did not participate in the study.

In an interview with the Medscape Spanish edition, Ambriz, a member of the Mexican Society of Nutrition and Endocrinology, noted that a 2017 study found a 72.9% prevalence of metabolic syndrome in older Mexican adults. The current article reports a prevalence five points higher. “This increase, rather than differences in variable definitions, highlights the growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our country,” he stressed.

“The data from this study are concerning, and unfortunately, the projections are not promising. Changes in diet and lifestyle over recent decades have contributed to the increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome,” noted Humberto García Ortiz, PhD, from the Laboratory of Immunogenomics and Metabolic Diseases at the National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico.

Global Health Issue

For this study, researchers examined data from the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey and included 804 older adults, measuring anthropometric indicators such as weight, height, and waist circumference and taking blood samples to determine triglyceride levels, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Participants also completed a self-reported questionnaire covering sociodemographic variables such as sex, age, educational level, ethnicity (indigenous or not), geographic region, socioeconomic status, and alcohol consumption. The study used the consensus definition of metabolic syndrome from the International Diabetes Federation.

Ambriz recognized the appropriateness of this definition but noted an anomaly with waist circumference parameters. For women, values > 90 cm were used, and for men, values > 80 cm were applied to determine the presence of metabolic syndrome. “If this was done deliberately, I hope it didn’t skew the results, leading to a higher reported prevalence in women than in men.”

Ambriz also highlighted that other studies across different age groups show an increasing likelihood of metabolic syndrome with age. “This trend is observed not only in Mexico but globally. It is probably due to a decrease in daily physical activities and an increase in sedentary behavior as people age,” he explained.

Metabolic syndrome has become a significant public health issue, especially as the population ages. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 estimated that 29% of the disease burden in older adults aged over 60 years is due to noncommunicable diseases, which account for 86.8% of this burden.

Metabolic syndrome also increases the risk for death from various causes. A meta-analysis showed that those with the syndrome have a 24% higher risk for cardiovascular mortality and a 23% higher risk for all-cause mortality than those without the syndrome.

Ambriz acknowledged that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the increase in metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle changes, including sedentary behavior, poor diet, a lack of nutritional education, and insufficient comprehensive programs, are major influences.

Ortiz highlighted that a 2020 cross-sectional study by his team, which included 2596 Mexicans of indigenous ancestry from the Metabolic Analysis in an Indigenous Sample cohort, found similar results. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in women than in men (55.6% vs 38.2%), with an overall prevalence of 50.3%. However, they noted that the prevalence rate decreased after age 60. This group exhibited metabolic effects that increased their risk for cardiovascular disorders.

Call for Public Health Policies

Given these findings, Ortiz recommended public health policies focused on preventing risk factors and continuing the analysis of genetic variants that may predispose populations to conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. This could lead to the development of polygenic risk tests for early detection and intervention.

Ambriz proposed a national obesity and diabetes prevention program involving comprehensive strategies with the participation of all sectors and levels of government. This program would promote healthy eating with fewer high-calorie products and encourage physical exercise, targeting not only at-risk groups but the entire Mexican population. This program should include extensive informational campaigns, new food legislation, and fiscal incentives for the industry. These measures would help unify the current fragmented and limited diabetes and obesity prevention programs, which are often restricted to small populations with diversified strategies.

“Health systems in Mexico and worldwide are addressing high-mortality conditions in isolation, focusing on secondary prevention of obesity, diabetes, and myocardial infarctions. We need to act before these diseases appear in children and adults. We must look beneath the tip of the iceberg to see the entire Mexican population,” summarized Ambriz.

Ambriz and Ortiz have declared no relevant financial conflicts of interest.

This story was translated from the Medscape Spanish edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.