The Associations Between Socio-economic Status and Metabolic Syndrome Among General Population in Nanjing, China: a Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundWe aim to investigate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among general population in Nanjing, China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 among adults aged 18 years or older in Nanjing, China. Participants were selected using multistage sampling approach. Diagnosed MetS was the outcome variable. Education and monthly family average income (FAI) was used to separately indicate SES. Mixed-effects models were used to calculate the association between SES and MetS.ResultsThe prevalence of MetS was 19.7% (95%CI=19.0%, 20.4%) among overall sample population. After controlling for covariates, educational attainment was negatively associated with MetS prevalence in women. As for men, the most well-educated subjects were at the lowest risk (OR=0.72, 95%CI=0.57, 0.92) of having MetS compared to the least educated subjects. Relative to those who from lower FAI sub-group, participants from upper tertile were less likely to have MetS for both genders (OR=0.73, 95%CI=0.617, 0.87; OR=0.85, 95%CI=0.73, 0.99). Among all participants, higher education level predicted lower waist circumference, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose concentration. Higher FAI was associated with lower waist circumference and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women, and with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in men.ConclusionsEducation and family average income each was inversely related to MetS and its components prevalence in Nanjing, China in 2017. It has important public health implications that the tailored prevention strategies should be implemented for people with different socioeconomic status.