Background : NCEP ATP Ⅲ provided a working definition of metabolic syndrome and drew the importance of this syndrome for prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome in South Koreans are unknown.
Methods : A total of 7,865 subjects (3,572 men and 4,293 women) aged 20-79 years were analyzed from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1998. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was assessed as defined by the NCEP ATP Ⅲ, while abdominal obesity was assessed according to the Asia-Pacific guidelines (waist circumference = 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women). Associated factors with metabolic syndrome were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results : The age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 20.1% for men and 23.9% for women, respectively. Associated factors for metabolic syndrome among Koreans were age, increment of BMI, and smoking regardless of gender. Alcohol consumption less than 12 g per day decreased the risk of metabolic syndrome in both men and women. Highly educated women had lower risk of metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among South Koreans. Obesity and smoking were identified as independent modifiable risk factors. Early identification and intervention of high risk group is needed for prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Prevalence, Associated factors, Obesity, Smoking, South Korean