Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and related factors.

Material and Method: This is a cross-sectional study which was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and related factors. It included a total of 961 people aged 15 years and over living in 240 householdsin Cankayadistrictof Ankara, whowereselected by 1/200 systematic sampling method. A questionnaire was administered to the individuals in their households, and blood pressure, height and weight were measured. Fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein levels were measured after the participants were invited to the laboratory. The definition of metabolic syndrome was made according to The World Health Organization (WHO) 1999 criteria. On this basis, metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of two or more of the factors including obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2), high triglyceride levels (>150 mg/dL) and/or low HDL

levels (<35 mg/dL in males and<39 mg/dL in females) and high blood pressure (systolic blood pressure≥140 mm/Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure≥90 mm/Hg), where the presence of glucose intolerance (Fasting Blood Sugar>100 mg/dL) is a prerequisite.

Results: Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 13.5%. The risk of it was found to be higher in individuals over 45 years of age, in those with low level of education, housewives, unemployed ones, especially women, and in retirees. The risks of metabolic syndrome were 1.6,
3.3 and 2.2 times higher in non-smokers and those with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures respectively. The risk of metabolic syndrome was found to be higher in ones with hyperlipidemia and with a total cholesterol / HDL ratio of 5 or above.

Conclusion: Age, high level of VLDL, and total cholesterol/HDL ratio of 5 or above were found to play a primary role in the development of MS.

Metabolicsyndrome Hypertension Hyperlipidemia Risk factors