OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in type 2 diabetes mellitus pedigrees.

METHODSA total number of 4468 subjects (including spouses) from 715 type 2 diabetic pedigrees were selected in this study. Complete laboratory data including blood pressure, lipid profile and plasma glucose, were collected. All subjects who were not defined as diabetic were valued by oral glucose tolerance test. MS was diagnosed according to the definition proposed by the China Diabetes Society (CDS) in 2004.

RESULTS(1) The prevalence of MS was 23.86% in diabetic pedigrees, and subsequently increased in second-degree relatives, spouses, first-degree relatives and probands. (2) The prevalence rates of 'at least' 1 metabolic abnormality in first-degree relatives, second-degree relatives and spouses were 80.10%, 59.76% and 70.30%, respectively. (3) Ratios on non-metabolic abnormality, 1 - 2 metabolic abnormality and MS were 19.90%, 55.02% and 25.08% in first-degree relatives, 40.24%, 50.82% and 8.94% in second-degree relatives, 29.70%, 53.31% and 16.99% in spouses, respectively. (4) Among the first-degree relatives, the common manifestation of metabolic abnormality was dyslipidemia for subjects aged below 40 years, and hyperglycemia for subjects aged over 40 years of age. (5) The prevalence of MS in first-degree relatives was higher in males than in females for subjects aged below 60 and it was higher in females than in males for subjects aged over 60.

CONCLUSIONThere was significant familial aggregation of MS found in our study. The first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients were high risk populations, suggesting that early recognition and prevention were important issues to be carried out.