Socioeconomic Inequalities in Metabolic Syndrome by Age and Gender in a Spanish Working Population

Manuela Abbate, Jordi Pericas, Aina M. Yañez, Angel A. López-González, Joan De Pedro-Gómez, Antoni Aguilo, José M. Morales-Asencio and Miquel Bennasar-Veny
Additional contact information
Manuela Abbate: Research Group on Global Health, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Jordi Pericas: Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
Aina M. Yañez: Research Group on Global Health, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Angel A. López-González: School of Odontology ADEMA, University of the Balearic Islands, 07009 Palma, Spain
Joan De Pedro-Gómez: Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
Antoni Aguilo: Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
José M. Morales-Asencio: Department of Nursing, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Miquel Bennasar-Veny: Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: Lower socio-economic status (SES) is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence, possibly affecting women more than men, although evidence in Spain is still limited. The present cross-sectional study analyzed the association between MS and SES by age and gender among 42,146 working adults living in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Prevalence was higher in men (9.4% by ATP-III; 12.3% by IDF) than women (3.8% by ATP-III; 5.7% by IDF) and in the lower social class (7.9% by ATP-III; 10.7% by IDF) than the higher (4.1% by ATP-III; 5.9% by IDF). The SES gradient in MS prevalence was larger in women (PR 95% CI: 3.38, 2.50–4.58 by ATP-III; 3.06, 2.43–3.86 by IDF) than in men (1.23, 1.06–1.41 by ATP-III; 1.15, 1.03–1.30 by IDF) and was already evident from early adulthood, reaching the highest ratio at the late stages of middle adulthood (4.34, 1.11–16.98). Among men, it was significant during the late stages of early adulthood only (1.80, 1.19–2.73). Lower SES influenced MS prevalence in both genders, however, women seemed more affected than men. From a public health perspective, SES could be strongly associated with the burden of MS; in an effort to reduce its prevalence, public health policies should focus on gender differences in socio-economic inequality and consider women with low socio-economic resources as a priority.

Keywords: socioeconomic status; socioeconomic status gradient; metabolic syndrome; prevalence of metabolic syndrome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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