Military community: a privileged site for clinical research: Epidemiological Study of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in the Military Environment.

The metabolic syndrome is considered to be an important public health problem. The Epidemiological Study of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in the Military Environment is a prospective epidemiological study that is designed to identify clinical and laboratory parameters of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors with an initial 1-year cross-sectional study followed by a 10-year follow-up and patient care. One hundred eight-five (9%) of 2,045 military personnel subjects presented at least three of the five National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria. They were significantly older (42.2 +/- 8.5 years) than the other subjects (37.3 +/- 8.7 years, p < 0.001), had a higher body mass index (BMI) (29.5 +/- 3.4 vs. 24.8 +/- 2.9, p < 0.001), and a greater body weight at age 20 (75.4 +/- 11 vs. 70.4 +/- 8.5 kg, p < 0.001). Smoking, little physical activity, and family histories of diabetes and arterial hypertension were more frequent in these subjects. Total plasma cholesterol and C-reactive protein were higher. Plasma insulin and BMI (r = 0.456, p < 0.0001) and plasma insulin and waist circumference (r = 0.446, p < 0.0001) were well correlated. Plasma insulin and homeostasis model assessment increased with the number of metabolic syndrome criteria. These results demonstrate a strong association with insulin resistance. Men with several risk factors require specific care especially for hypertension and dyslipidemia that will be evaluated during the follow-up period. Genotyping of subjects having metabolic syndrome vs. controls for genes, presumably involved should enlarge the area of exploration of this syndrome.