With the receding threats of communicable diseases, and looming over threats of Coronary Artery Disease, Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus, the research in the later has been focused on detection of their preclinical stages. The co-occurrence of metabolic risk factors for both Type 2 Diabetes and CVD suggested the existence of a “metabolic syndrome”. From a clinical perspective, the importance of the metabolic syndromes is attributable to two factors: 1) it is extremely common, and 2) it is a target for the prevention of and therapy for the multiple disorders with which it is associated. In India, age-standardized prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome are 33.5%. Sedentary lifestyle, older age, female gender, obesity, inadequate fruit intake, hypercholesterolemia, and middle-to-high socioeconomic status significantly contribute to increased risk of metabolic syndrome. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in apparently normal population attending Medicine Outpatient Department of a tertiary care hospital and to analyse the risk factor profile of the individuals with Metabolic Syndrome. In our study 39 out of 150 subjects (26%) were found to have metabolic syndrome using ATP III Revised Criteria. The prevalence increased as the age advanced (51% in 40-59-year age group and there was female preponderance (37 vs 19%). High blood pressure, Body mass index, Waist circumference, Hypertriglyceridemia, high fasting blood sugar level, Low HDL cholesterol in blood, Aging & High LDL cholesterol in blood were the risk factors associated with high prevalence of Metabolic syndrome.

Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome; ATP III Criteria, Risk Factors.