Gender differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in 50-year-old Swedish men and women with hypertension born in 1953

To investigate potential gender differences in the role of hypertension as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS) we used a random population sample of 50-year-old men ( n =595) and women ( n =667; all born in 1953) who were examined in 2003–2004. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure values were dichotomized at ⩾140 mm Hg and ⩾90 mm Hg, respectively. MetS was defined using NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Programme) and IDF (International Diabetes Federation) criteria. MetS was more prevalent in men than in women (NCEP 16% versus 10%, P =0.003; IDF 26% versus 16%, P =0.000) and systolic hypertension was more common in men than in women (high SBP 24% versus 18%, P =0.003; high DBP 29% versus 24%, P =0.074). Women with high SBP had about a seven-fold increased NCEP risk compared with normotensive women (odds ratio (OR) 6.91, confidence interval (CI) 2.90–16.42), whereas high SBP in men was associated with about a three-fold increased NCEP risk (OR 2.72, CI 1.69–4.38). A similar pattern was observed for the IDF criterion of MetS. All interaction terms (sex × hypertension) were significant at P