Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among employees of a taiwanese hospital varies according to profession

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among various employee groups at a Taiwan hospital. We retrospectively compared the prevalence of MS, as defined by the Taiwan Department of Health, among employee groups (physicians, nurses, medical technicians, and administrative staff) at a medical center in northern Taiwan in 2011. Total cholesterol was used in lieu of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values. The overall prevalence of MS among the 1673 men and 5117 women investigated was 12.0%. Physicians had the highest prevalence of MS (18.3%). Abdominal obesity and high blood sugar were the most (29.3%) and least (10.5%) prevalent abnormalities, respectively. The hospital employees had a moderate prevalence of MS. Physicians and administrative staff members had higher prevalence of MS than the other populations.