Palmer MK, et al. - In this study, researchers determined the frequency and prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and diabetes mellitus among US adults. They found that the frequency and prevalence of key cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, especially diabetes and obesity, continue to increase in adults and represent a significant clinical burden. They concluded that, in order to reduce the future burden of CV disease, more effective prevention measures are needed to reduce the prevalence of these modifiable CV risk factors.

Methods

• This investigation drew on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2004 to 2013-2014; n=32,188).
• The frequency and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, MetS, obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), and abdominal obesity in the US adult population were calculated and extrapolated.
• In addition, average high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were evaluated.

Results

• According to the findings, mean HDL-C for men (~48 mg/dL) and women (~58 mg/dL) remained constant over the study period.
• The investigators observed a downward trend for median TG levels in men (122 mg/dL, 2003-2004; 98 mg/dL, 2013-2014) and women (110 mg/dL, 2003-2004; 90 mg/dL, 2013-2014).
• In addition, the estimated obesity frequency increased by 20.4 million, and the estimated diabetes frequency increased by 9 million, affecting 21.2 million and 30.2 million adults in the United States.
• The researchers found that the estimated frequency (and prevalence) of MetS remained unchanged at ~50 million.