Abstract

BACKGROUND
Insulin-resistance syndrome or syndrome X which includes diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity has been regarded as one of the mechanisms involved in the atherosclerotic disease. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of each camponent of insulin-resistance syndrome. We have also analyzed the clustering of insulin-resistance syndrome according to fasting insulin levels in subjects who participated in the Younchon county diabetes prevalence study in 1993. METHOD: One thousand, eight hundred and eleven subjects among 2520 subjects over 30 years-old were enrolled, We investigated the prevalence of 5 metabolic syndromes: glucose intolerance(impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus by WHO criteria), hypertension(diastolic blood pressure >95 mmHg), Hypertriglyceridemia(triglyceride >2.26 mmol/L), low HDL cholesterolemia(HDL cholesterol <0.91 mmol/ L) and obesity(body mass index >25 kg/m) according to fasting serum insulin level. RESULTS: The prevalence of glucose intolerance (diabetes mellitus and impaired glueose tolerance), hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDI, cholesterolemia and obestiy were 18.2%, 21.3%, 10.9%, 45.6% and 36.3%, respectively. According to the four quartiles(quartile 1, 2, 3, 4) of fasting serum insulin level, the prevalence rate of each metaboic syndrome was as follows: 9.5%, 15.6%, 22.8% and 25.0% for glucose intolerance; 18.7%, 17.5%, 21.1% and 27.9% for hypertension; 5.0%, 8.1%, 13 8% and 16.9% for hypertriglyceridemia; 37.9%, 46.6%, 46.5% and 51.6% for low HDL cholesterolemia; 19.2%, 30.1%, 40.8% and 55.4% for obesity. As the fasting insulin levels increase, the clustering of 2 or more disease increase. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndromes associated with insulin-resistance are relatively common disorders in the Korean population. The prevalence and clustering of metabolic abnormalities also increase as serum insulin level increases in Korean population.

• Keywords: Insulin-resistance syndrome;Hyperinsulinemia;Clustering;