Variability in the presence of the metabolic syndrome in Type 2 diabetic patients attending a diabetes clinic: Influences of age and gender

In this study, we have assessed age and gender-related influences on the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and closely related variables in Type 2 diabetic patients attending a diabetes clinic. For this purpose, we have taken retrospective clinical and biochemical data from consecutive Type 2 diabetic patients ( n=291) and we have classified them by gender, age (with 55 and 70 years as cut-off levels) and having or not having the MS (using both the WHO and NCEP–ATP III MS definitions). A higher prevalence of adiposity and hypertension was present in the females. Males were characterized by higher uric acid and lower HDL-cholesterol and apoA 1 levels (two-way ANOVA considering jointly age and gender as main effects, P