Association of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components with Survival of Older Adults

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) as an important risk factor arising from insulin resistance accompanying abnormal adipose deposition and function has become a major challenge to public health around the world.

Objectives: This research was conducted to evaluate the association of MetS and its components with survival of older adults.

Methods: This prospective study is a part of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Cohort Project (2011 - 2017) conducted among 1562 older adults (aged 60 years and over) living in Amirkola, north of Iran. MetS was defined according to four sets of definition: Iranian definition, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition, 2001 Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III and 2005 Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III.

Results: Eight hundred sixty-three (55.2%) males and 699 (44.8%) females with a mean age of 69.3 ± 7.4 years were included in the research. The results showed that 71.9%, 74.3%, 68.8% and 66.7% of older adults had MetS based on 2005 ATP III, Iranian, IDF and 2001 ATP III diagnostic criteria, respectively. Only raised fasting plasma glucose (FPG) had a significant association with a five-year survival rate of older adults (FPG ≥ 110mg/dL: adjusted HR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.51 - 2.78; P < 0.001). Other MetS components did not show any significant associations with survival (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, MetS itself significantly decreased the survival rate of older adults after adjusting age, gender and number of chronic diseases (HR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.16 - 2.41; P = 0.006).

Conclusions: MetS and one of its components, high FPG, have significant associations with survival of older adults.