Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS)
indicates increased risk for cardiovascular disease and
type 2 diabetes. We estimated the overall and ethnicspecific
prevalence of MetS and explored the
associations of risk factors with MetS among
Amerindian, Creole, Hindustani, Javanese, Maroon and
Mixed ethnic groups.
Method: We used the 2009 Joint Interim Statement
( JIS) to define MetS in a subgroup of 2946
participants of the Suriname Health Study, a national
survey designed according to the WHO Steps
guidelines. The prevalences of MetS and its
components were determined for all ethnicities.
Hierarchical logistic regressions were used to
determine the associations of ethnicity, sex, age,
marital status, educational level, income status,
employment, smoking status, residence, physical
activity, fruit and vegetable intake with MetS.
Results: The overall estimated prevalence of MetS was
39.2%. From MetS components, central obesity and
low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) had
the highest prevalences. The prevalence of MetS was
highest for the Hindustanis (52.7%) and lowest for
Maroons (24.2%). The analyses showed that in the
overall population sex (women: OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2 to
1.6), age (OR 5.5 CI 4.3 to 7.2), education (OR 0.7 CI
0.6 to 0.9), living area (OR 0.6 CI 0.5 to 0.8), income
(OR 0.7 CI 0.5 to 0.9) and marital status (OR 1.3 CI
1.1 to 1.6) were associated with MetS. Variations
observed in the associations of the risk factors with
MetS in the ethnic groups did not materially influence
the associations of ethnicities with MetS.
Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS was high and
varied widely among ethnicities. Overall, central obesity
and low HDL-C contributed most to MetS. Further
studies are needed to assess the prospective
associations of risk factors with MetS in different
ethnic groups.