Zhang X, et al. - In an urban Chinese population, researchers evaluated if metabolic syndrome (Mets) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and other atherogenic parameters were linked. From 582 subjects including 359 men and 223 women without Mets in 1992, data were obtained in 1992 and then again in 2007. Participants were followed-up for 15 years. In the univariate logistic regression analysis, AIP was the lipid parameter most strongly linked with Mets (unadjusted odds ratio: 5.66) over a 15-year follow-up. In a univariate model, Mets was significantly predicted by AIP in men (unadjusted odds ratio: 30.73). Following adjustment for smoking, drinking, physical exercise and components of Mets, the links continued to be significant. In this study, AIP was suggested to be a strong and independent predictor for Mets in an urban Chinese population. Men, but not women, demonstrated increased incidence of Mets in correlation with elevation of AIP.