Presence of Metabolic Syndrome in Young Asian American Adults

Abstract

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors that contributes to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Components of MetS include abdominal obesity, lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, higher blood sugar and triglycerides, and elevated blood pressure. The prevalence of MetS in young adults is increasing worldwide, but may be underestimated in some ethnic groups such as Asian Americans. The aim of our study is to determine the presence of MetS in young Asian Americans by applying criteria that are specific to the Asian ethnic group.