Metabolic syndrome afflicts quarter of US workforce

Recent study results have revealed that nearly one quarter of the US workforce has metabolic syndrome, a condition that significantly increases an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Dr Wayne Burton of the University of Illinois at Chicago and colleagues studied health risk appraisal data on 5,512 employees of a large financial services corporation. Results showed that 22.6% of employees had metabolic syndrome, which is defined as having at least three of five risk factors: waist circumference of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women, high triglyceride levels, reduced levels of “good” HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high glucose levels.

Those with metabolic syndrome were more likely to rate their health as poor compared with employees who did not have the condition. Furthermore, they were significantly more likely to take more time off work. Results showed that 39% of participants with all five risk factors for metabolic syndrome had taken at least 3 days off work because of illness in the last 12-months, compared with 25% of those with no risk factors.

The researchers suggest: “Worksite health promotion programs could be useful in helping employees and employers to identify metabolic syndrome risks and take steps to reduce risk and potential productivity losses.”

Burton WN, Chen CY, Schultz AB, Eddington DW.  The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in an Employed Population and the Impact on Health and Productivity. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 2008;50:1139-1148.